Arborist 'furious' over city tree inspections

But limb that fell, killing a man in Trinity Bellwoods Park, was from a healthy tree, city parks spokesman says.

Thestar.com
June 18, 2016
By Evelyn Kwong

A Toronto arborist says he is “furious” at the city’s “negligence and laziness” in inspecting trees the day after a man was killed when a falling branch struck him in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Andrew Baughn, an ISA certified arborist and founder of Eco Tree Co., said the city needs to do more work to avoid more tragedies.

“If I walked you through Trinity Bellwoods, five to six trees would need immediate attention . . . and this is a park that holds thousands of people,” he said.

Baughn, who lives across the park with his family and walks through it every morning with his children, has documented several trees that are unhealthy, including one that almost fell on him and his 2-year old son last June.

“A big chunk of wood from a silver maple tree, almost 250 pounds, fell last year while I was at the park with my son,” he said. “If it had hit us, or anyone else, we would’ve been dead.”

Matthew Cutler, spokesman for Parks, Forestry and Recreation, said that the tree was in “good health and not a risk to public safety,” after their inspection Saturday.

Cutler went on to say that “limb drops” by healthy trees have been documented in several tree species as a result of a phenomenon called “summer branch drop.”

“We have not determined this was the case in this incident,” Cutler said. “It is important to note that while highly unlikely, limbs can fall from otherwise healthy trees.”

The tree in question was last inspected in 2014, when it was reported to be in good health, Cutler said.

Media reports say the victim was a 30-year-old French citizen who was in Canada on a work permit with his wife.

The French consulate in Toronto did not return requests for comment when contacted on Saturday.

“I was just sitting over on the picnic bench. I heard a crack, and within a second it was on top of them,” said witness Tyson Bigio. “It was like lightning.”

Despite the tragedy, something Toronto police Const. Craig Brister said he has “never” heard of before, the park remained busy Saturday.

“I think we’re just looking at this as . . . wrong place, wrong time, whatever you want to call it,” Brister said.