These photos were taken Monday, May 3 in the Bigfork area, which is on Flathead Lake in northwest Montana. Over much of Montana on Monday and Tuesday they had some major winds that damaged trees, signs and trucks. The photos were taken by Rick Trembath of Flathead Forestry and Fire Consulting, a former Chief of the Bigfork Fire Department.
More information and photos of the extrication of the trees are below.
We contacted Mr. Trembath who was involved with the Bigfork Fire Department’s response to the incident. He sent us additional photos and this information:
The homeowners were in the home at the time and were just seconds from being under the tree. The home was about totaled with substantial foundation involvement. We had a good skilled arborist take the trees off – something I wouldn’t recommend most fire department responders doing – see attached pictures.
Professional arborists are one of those specialized resources it’s good to have contacts with, or at least familiarization, beforehand.
In many areas the good ones have taken rescue classes and will form their own mutual aid network. Ideally their groundsmen will have the numbers for other rescue trained arborists in the area — in an accident they first call 911 to get the first responders rolling, then they call another arborist to get a phone-tree started for rescue qualified arborists in the area.
These guys are going to be far better and safer working in trees then firefighters.
http://www.tcia.org/articles/Safety/TCI0308_p8.htm
Some arborists will also take animal rescue calls, so they’re a good referral number for your dispatcher to have.