The Senator - 5th Oldest Tree in the World - Caught Fire!

Post by **M12Gunboy** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:09 pm

Historic tree catches fire in central Florida park

Associated Press – 2 hrs 53 mins ago, LONGWOOD, Fla. (AP) — Firefighters say one of the world's oldest cypress trees has caught fire and collapsed in central Florida.

It's unknown what caused a 118-foot-tall bald cypress tree named "The Senator" to catch fire early Monday.

Seminole County Fire Rescue spokesman Steve Wright tells the Orlando Sentinel the tree burned for several from the inside out.

Firefighters arrived around 5:50 a.m. and pulled more than 800 feet of hose through the woods to the fire. Wright says a 20-foot section of the tree fell off around 7:45 a.m., and the tree collapsed a half-hour later.

According to the county's parks and preservation department, "The Senator" was roughly 3,500 years old.

Parks officials say the tree reached a height of 165 feet before a 1925 hurricane lopped off its top.

http://www.cfnews13.com/video?clip=http ... title='The Senator' on fire

Post by **Triple Creek Reaper** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:28 pm

Now that is a d**n shame. That one was one cool tree. I hate to see something like that go. Someone had to of started that fire, we haven't had in lightining in a long time.

Post by **M12Gunboy** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 12:36 pm

Not sure, they are saying maybe internal combustion due to it being so hollowed out and full of so much debris or a lightning strike since the fire started on the inside. I sure hope it wasn't arson!

Post by **Iluv2hunt** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:24 pm

I would almost guarantee you its internal combustion. For the same reason that lumber mills have to keep irrigation going all the time on stacked up lumber and cut trees. With no rain in the last few months, it sounds completely plausible

Post by **Ironcat** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:29 pm

It hasn't internally combusted in 3500 years, I vote arson.

Post by **houseofmicah** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 2:30 pm

it hasn't mostly been dead on the inside for 3500 years either.

Post by **GoodOyster** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:38 pm

What a shame to lose such a landmark. I've heard about it but never seen it in person.

I think spontaneous combustion is very possible. If you've ever worked around a compost pile or around hay, wood chip piles, etc. you know how warm they can get as part of the natural breakdown process. And a cypress can get lightered up, or fat, like a pine, so it doesn't take much heat to get that stuff going. Oh well, 3500 years ain't a bad run!

Post by **Iluv2hunt** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:42 pm

You are correct, Gary. That's pretty much how muck fires get started. Dump a pile of yard clippings in your yard and the next day you can't stick your hand in it. However, a newer news report is stating they found a pile of debris at the base of the tree that is leaning this towards arson

Post by **GoodOyster** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 4:47 pm

Well, if it proves to be arson, I hope there's enough tree left to string them from it or tie them to it and let the fire ants have a go.

Post by **drgn4sr** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 7:55 pm

no arson according to news the eve. slow burning strike from a few weeks ago. high winds and drought finished the tree. saw it many times when I lived in Longwood. Imagine-3500 years old. a real shame.

Florida Outdoors Hunting & Fishing Forums - FOHAF.COM