Edhat Staff
Edhat readers report a large Italian Stone Pine tree fell in the 500 block of E. Anapamu Street in Santa Barbara during the rainstorm on Friday evening.
At least one car appears to be damaged. It’s unclear if the tree struck a nearby apartment complex.
[UPDATE]: The following day a second Italian Stone Pine Tree fell in the 400 block of Anapamu Street. See the follow-up article on this here.
By Kerri B.
I live at the residence where this tree fell from, the root side, and wow what a night! We were both home last night, and at about 12:15am we heard the loud cracking sound and a big rumble, the we felt the shake! It was so startling and scary because all power just went dark!
We of course hurried to get something to cover us and ran outside. Not only did the tree fall but it took down power line and cracked a power pole in half! I’m attaching pictures and a short video that shows even more detail from last night. Also it was our front neighbor whose car got smashed. We are just so glad everyone is safe!!!! Thank you for covering the story!!
Thank heavens no one was driving there at the moment it fell. This stand of historic landmark trees has been neglected for far too long, and the City needs to step up, assess each of the trees and maintain them according to best practices. That is clearly not being done, which clearly poses a danger to the public.
I have personally seen the city come by with water tanks in summer for years, so there have been efforts made for years to keep them alive during the drought.
Interestingly, look at today’s colorization of the mission and you will see how dry the natural land is. These are introduced plants that never lived in this environment to begin with. It is still sad to see one of these beautiful trees co.e down.
During the drought he Pearl Chase Society spent nearly $15,000 on the purchase of the green “irricades” to help water those trees, at the City’s request. The City took them out some months ago. But these big trees, planted by A. Boyd Doremus, need much more than watering, and certainly , their environment has been very stressful. They must be properly pruned and evaluated regularly for their health, their historic value, and the safety of the community. Their designation as City Historic Landmarks (in 1999) requires replacement, but more than 20 have been lost since then, and very few replaced.
🙁
thanks for the pictures though
Beautiful tree, but dangerous.
Their life span is not that long as they seem to do this when they get older.
Lompoc has what is left of a historic street lined with these.
Lompoc took care of its stone pines; Santa Barbara arborist department has encouraged their demise. It’s a disgrace … and a sadness … and much luck that no human was hurt!
If you meant taking care is cutting down the tree ,than you are correct
Terribly sad to see this iconic and majestic Stone pine will be gone now. This corridor of lovely old trees is such a special part of our Santa Barbara treescape. Truly happy no-one was injured.
Trees do not live forever- This won’t be the first or the last on Anapamu to come down at this age. An interesting post on the Mission and surroundings back in the day, notice how few trees were naturally here. Mostly sparse California oaks and sycamores along the creeks, the rest are all planted and outside species…
The natural arch of these Italian Stone Pines(ISP) gave Anapamu Street such a unique feel. My first visit to SB in 1981, I walked from the Bowl to downtown on the street and was entranced. Glad no one was hurt. Imagine the stresses these trees have had to deal with like the drought, and the city’s neglect of the ISP jewels had to weaken their roots. Then came the rains and loosened the dirt. Non-native trees and other plants were regularly planted in the wrong places, but… there could have been more care afforded to them. THX for the coverage Edhat. Lived around the corner on Laguna St. in the 400 block for about five years and always had great respect for the trees themselves. LOVE the pine cones — they look like a rose almost – albeit a wood rose.
I needed to go to upper State so taking the usual route up Olive, but this time taking a left on E. Anapamu noticing the downed tree and didn’t think much of it as most had been cleared. On the way home I decided to do the reverse this time actually noticing the silver/gray car crushed under what was left of the stump. They’ve written on the side that it’s $5 for pictures (which at the time I didn’t have on me so I couldn’t take pictures) as well as an email address… The pictures posted above are directly in front of 518 E. Anapamu. with the tree & the really crushed car is in front of 424 E. Anapamu…
So both on the same side of the street something like a block apart.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4282186,-119.6993316,3a,49.4y,67.5h,87.2t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1slFfyYfauw3oj0–TK4ixXQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DlFfyYfauw3oj0–TK4ixXQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D37.93978%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu