BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – A 50-foot oak tree that towers over the northeast corner of 21st and E streets must come down because of fire damage caused by an arsonist, the second such arson in the downtown area in the past three days.
That’s the verdict of Bakersfield’s city arborist, who inspected the immense tree at the direction of city code enforcement officials. His ruling: The tree must come down Wednesday because of fire damage and the appearance of disease.
The city will not be involved in the removal because the oak – thought to be between 65 and 100 years old – is on private property. Code enforcement issued a 48-hour notice to the property owner to remove the tree and the property owner assured the city it will be handled by July 15, according to a city spokesman.
Bakersfield FD searches for man wanted for fire at Luigi’s
A single engine from Station 1, just two blocks away, was alerted to the fire just before midnight Monday and put the fire out within minutes. Businesses near the scene said fire officials were asking for security video. This is the second significant arson incident in recent days, coming just three days after an individual – still at large – set a fire at Luigi’s restaurant in Old Town Kern…