Special Equipment Brought In To Remove Massive Fallen Tree Limb

DAVIS (CBS13) – A massive operation took place in Davis on Monday morning to remove a huge tree limb that came crashing down on a home over the weekend.

Davis residents Paul Zellner and his wife were rattled awake early Saturday morning when the 6,500-pound tree limb fell on their home.

"Like a lightning bolt, a crack and it echoed in the neighborhood. Then the whole house shook," Paul Zellner explained. "From the sounds, I knew it was a tree, but I didn't know how big it was."

The limb, which is actually the size of a tree, landed on their roof just feet above the bed they were sleeping in.

The Monterey pine limb was so massive the Zellners had to bring in special crews and equipment to remove it.

"This one was so big and gnarly that it was quicker for us to use the crane," said Darrell Frost of Solano Tree Preservation.

Tree experts secured the broken limb with some heavy-duty nylon rope until they could bring a super-sized crane, razor-sharp chainsaws and a large wood chipper.

"You never know what the branch is going to do. It might shift and take me with it," explained Frost.

No one was injured when the limb fell. Amazingly, no major damage was done to the roof or home.

The Zellner's are hoping the estimated $3,000 to $8,000 worth of damage and clean-up efforts will be covered under their homeowner's insurance.

The tree is on the property behind the Zellner's home. The couple was hoping to have the weakened tree removed entirely Monday, but the property owners changed their mind at the last minute.