Fallen Oak Tree Damages Hayward Property

Hayward, California (cron) — This change in weather has increased the demand for tree services. In Hayward, hundreds of years old oak trees fell over houses and cars.

Arborist David Gallo says his crew keeps busy all year round, but when storms come, the volume of calls increases, and this week was no exception.

“We have to be ready. We are ready,” Gallo said.

Gallo is a certified arborist and has owned and operated Better City Tree Services for 20 years. On Friday, he addressed a 350-year-old oak tree on Hampton Roads in Hayward.

One of the two damaged cars may be a total loss. Earlier this week, the tree fell from one neighbor’s property to another.

It’s so big that it locked the tenants who live in the back for a few days. Children couldn’t go to school and parents couldn’t go to work.

Gallo says the tree wasn’t dead, just neglected, which isn’t unusual.

“If they had proper trimming maintenance, you know, if we did it regularly, we could have saved the trees from falling,” Gallo said.

Gallo has responded to fallen trees across the Bay Area and expects rain and high winds to cause more fallen trees.

He says now is a good time to stop by an expert and have the tree evaluated.

“No one was hurt, thank God. In this case, they were cooking, so they’re very lucky to be alive,” Gallo said.

There was property damage, but lives were saved.