That dead oak on Maple Street nearly took out my truck last Tuesday

I was doing a routine removal quote in Tacoma, the owner said it looked fine from the ground. I climbed up to check the crown and the whole thing was rotten at the union, bark stripped clean off. A stiff breeze would have sent the top half right onto my F-150. I flagged it as a priority takedown, got the crew out Saturday with a 60-foot bucket and a GRCS. Cost the owner $2,800, but he thanked me three times. I never trust a tree from the sidewalk anymore. Has anyone else had a near miss like that from a hidden hollow core?

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wells.olivia1d ago

Hate that for you, man. I had a similar scare a few years back with a big maple in my own yard. Looked perfect from the street, but a branch the size of my leg just sheared off during a light rain and landed right where my kids play. Lesson learned the hard way. You did the right thing climbing it and checking, that takes guts. Good on that owner for listening before something real bad happened.