Neighbors Say Dead Trees are a Fire Hazard

A group of neighbors are fed up with the city and worried about a patch of dead trees on their block. They say the trees are a fire hazard, but the city isn’t doing much to help.

“Why would you want to wait until the damage is done?” asked Laura Murphy

Murphy lives on Vista Del Rey, and she says the city won’t pitch in to remove hazardous trees, which died after the February freeze, until it’s too late.

“There’s a sign on the interstate that says ‘wild fire danger extreme,'” said Murphy.

The wildfires that tore through parts of central Texas earlier this month have Murphy and neighbor Simone Hughes worried the same thing could happen in their own back yard.

“With the wildfires they have just started with people throwing a cigarette out, very simple things,” said Simone Hughes. “We are at risk here, too.”

Murphy and Hughes both tried to remove stray branches as best they could, but Hughes says the job is best left to professionals.

“The power lines go between major trunks where the trees split,” said Hughes. “The power lines go right through the middle. I wouldn’t want to take down one of those trees.”

They say they even tried to hire people to get rid of the trees, but estimates of up to $20,000 for six trees are too pricey.

Murphy said she thinks the financial burden of the tree removal shouldn’t belong to one person.

“I actually think the city needs to help,” said Murphy. “I don’t want any of this to be happening, but the unfortunate thing is, you can’t stick your head in a hole and you have to do something about it, and i don’t know what to do, frankly.”

A spokeswoman for Environmental Services said they don’t get involved unless something happens with the trees. City Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly, who represents that area, said she would call her office and take care of it right away.