Tree Crashes Down on Apartment Building

Everyone in an apartment building early this morning in Oakland escaped injury when a tree fell onto the building during today’s rainstorm, Oakland Public Works spokeswoman Kristine Shaff said.

A eucalyptus tree fell at about 2 a.m. onto a Fairmont Terrace apartment building at 261 Fairmount Ave. and damaged the roof, Shaff said.

Public works crews responded after they were called by fire officials to assess the situation, but could not do anything because of the darkness, she said. This morning crews and a consulting arborist are doing inspections of the situation, Shaff said. “The people are safe,” she said. She also said public works officials are in contact with the property manager. No one picked up the phone at Fairmont Terrace this morning.

“We are fortunate to have such an extensive urban forest,” Shaff said. But it does pose a danger, she said. She recommends people be aware of the danger as well as the benefits of trees and the urban forest. “It’s treasuring Mother Nature and not taking her for granted,” Shaff said. A lot of urban areas don’t have trees at all, she said. The fallen tree is a priority this morning for Oakland Public Works officials, Shaff said.

But crews are also working on other incidents from Thursday evening and night, she said. Public works officials encourage private property owners with questions about trees on their property to call a consulting arborist rather than a tree trimming company. A consulting arborist cares more about preserving trees, Shaff said.

Residents are encouraged to call Oakland Public Works at (510) 615-5566 if a city tree presents an emergency so a crew can do an inspection, Shaff said.

--Bay City News