This 200+ year old Ponderosa pine, located just north of the "Bunkhouse" at Mount Wilson Observatory, was severely damaged by back fire intrusion into a wound on its side. It was judged by Forest Service experts as highly unlikely to survive so it was felled by a crew from the Helena Hot Shots on Wednesday afternoon, at 3:10 pm, 9 Sep 09.
This tree was fire weakend and at risk of falling on Observatory structures. Hated to see it go.
newcombhigh 9 months ago
I'm just curious, do you guys do any fuel reduction work before the prescribed burns? Cutting some of the brush away from the pine could have saved it. Nice felling btw
mbanchero 1 year ago
So sad to see it go, but understandable.
kikinchick 2 years ago
My boyfriend is on the Helena Hot Shot crew :)
loritz32 2 years ago
Sad to see such a beautiful tree go...
AlcatrazT2 2 years ago