Sycamore on fire on backside
Today was the first day in about a week when the sun was out and the temperature was above freezing. We were driving on a road next to a city park when our son noticed what looked like smoke coming from the tree line at the edge of the park. Not thinking much of it, we drove on, and saw lots of geese on the river past the park. But, we all kept taking about that smoke we saw. We circled back around and drove into the park where the small column of smoke still billowed.
Our son walked over to the tree line and found that an old sycamore tree was in fact on fire! I walked over to the tree and saw actual flames and several square feet of charred trunk surface. We called the Fire Department Admin office who directed us to call 911. We did.
Lots of equipment for one tree
Well, a few minutes later here came one of the city’s large aerial ladder trucks. Two firefighters got out of the truck, one with a water extinguisher and went to our smoking tree. Long story short, they determined that the tree was hollow, and the “blaze” no doubt started by homeless people. Two other trees in this park had also had evidence of a fire started at the base.
They kind of knocked down the embers on the charred trunk. The Street Department was called. Those two fellows said they were ok if they let it burn, and eventually it would fall into the river. The Fire Department agreed. So there is now an old hollow sycamore tree slowly burning on the edge of a city park. Hope the city is right and it will fall towards the river instead of into the park.
Roadtirement 
A single tree on fire is a freaking find.
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It had a bit of a bizarre-o world flavor. Some excitement on another wise boring drive.
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It’s good to be out on the watch.
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You never know what you’ll see, that is for sure. Thanks, Tim.
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sounds like you were in the right place at the right time to save a few other trees that might have burned had you not alerted the fire brigade.
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It was certainly an interesting event. Thanks for sharing.
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Sorry about the damage to the trees.
Even sorrier about people being homeless.
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Only saw one tree involved, and the Firefighters came up with the homeless theory. We saw no evidence of a campsite. But yes, homeless situations are sad.
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I guess they know best but… Good thing you called! The fire could have gotten out of control pretty darn quickly.
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We may drive by it again today to see if it is still smoldering. We were kind of questioning just leaving it as is…
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Strange event
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Yes, strange is an accurate description of what transpired. We’re still scratching our heads over the decision to, as the Beatles would put it, “Let it Be”.
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It’s not every day when you experience a tree on fire in a city park. I hope it falls in the right direction.
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It was an interesting event, for sure.
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I don’t see why homeless folk would do this? Just to express anger? The tree should have been fully extinguished…
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I would find it a bit risky to just let it smoulder, it could spread. But why would anybody set a tree in a park on fire?
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Why? Who knows, there are weird people out there. And yes, we wonder why the FD and Street Dept. employees chose to let it go…
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That is a sad story. I hope those responsible stop destroying trees!!
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You have to wonder what makes people do stuff like that.
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Wow, you are always popping up at right places.
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LOL…seems like it, Geoff. Thanks
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If the tree is hollow shouldn’t the city take it down. Why let it burn so nonchalantly.
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That is exactly what we thought. It was as if the FD nor the Street Dept. would take any stance other than let it go. Shoot, it would have been work to handle the situation.
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