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Fire destroys world's 5th oldest tree
A 3,500-year-old Central Florida landmark is no more. 'The Senator' falls, not believed to be arson.
by Mark Jenkins, cfnews13.com
January 16, 2012
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LONGWOOD, Florida -- A 3,500-year-old Central Florida landmark is no more.
A fire early Monday has destroyed the 125-foot-tall bald cypress tree known as "The Senator," the centerpiece of Longwood's Big Tree Park.
"The Senator" was the tallest cypress tree in the United States, and believed to be the oldest of its kind in North America, and the fifth oldest tree in the world.
Officials with Seminole Fire Rescue said they do not believe the fire is the result of arson.
A passer-by reported the fire around 5:45 a.m. Monday.
Crews had to lay over 800 feet of hose just to get to the tree, but Steve Wright, with Seminole County Fire Rescue, said they could not save "The Senator."
The tree was so old and hollow that it burned from the inside out.
“We saw some of the helicopter views,” Winfree said. “It looked like a giant torch.”
The tree got its name from Sen. Moses Overstreet, who donated the land to Seminole County in 1927.
Within two hours, it burned to the ground.
“It's just terrible,” Winfree said.
“The Senator” was a part of Winfree's family for years. Her son has a picture from his first visit 11 years ago when he was a baby.
“We've all grown up coming here,” Winfree said.
Once the tree collapsed, fire spread through surrounding brush approximately 30 feet from the tree.
The fire did not spread to any neighboring trees, including "The Senator's" sister tree, the 89-foot-tall "Lady Liberty."
Now the investigation begins into what started the fire.
“If somebody did this, they're going to get it from God, that's for sure,” Winfree said.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, as well as local law enforcement, are taking part in the investigation, which is still ongoing.
Because the tree is considered a national landmark, the person responsible could face federal penalties. However, it is too early in the investigation to be certain.
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