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Tree falls onto apartment building in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue

City officials declared this apartment building a total loss after the massive tree toppled.

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 11, 2009

A lightning-damaged oak tree toppled onto a two-story St. Petersburg apartment house today, doing major damage to the building.

No one was injured when the tree struck the house at 730 Jackson St. N. around 10:45 a.m., St. Petersburg fire officials said.

The tree fell more than a week after being struck by lightning, property owner Wally Staff told fire officials. Staff had the damaged parts of the tree pruned away several days ago.

That work left the tree off-balance and led to today's collapse, Deputy Fire Marshal Lt. Joel Granata said.

City officials declared the $207,000 building a total loss and condemned it. Progress Energy disconnected the power, Granata said.

The Red Cross is helping to relocate the building's eight tenants.

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