Published on October 29, 2019

Menlo Park Fire Protection District

A part of a tree fell into a house on Sunday in Menlo Park, narrowly missing the occupants, one of whom was an infant

Pictured above - A part of a large 100 foot tree fell on a Woodland Avenue home in Menlo Park Sunday - Credit Fire Photographer Peter Mootz

Pictured above - The trees impact collapsed the ceiling on this bedroom - Credit Fire Photographer Peter Mootz

San Mateo County Public Safety Communications Center received a report of a tree into a house on Woodland Avenue in Menlo Park, Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 1.19 pm.

Battalion Chief Chris Pimentel arrived on scene at 1.21 pm confirming that part of a large 100 foot tree had fallen into the house. He directed Fire crews on Engine One and Truck One to check the inside and outside of the single story home.

Firefighters confirmed that three people had been home at the time of the incident. Part of the tree shattered the windows in a cathedral style glass ceiling, showering safety glass down on a small infant and her two parents. The family was shaken but ultimately uninjured, after being checked by firefighter paramedics.

Pictured above - The trees impact shattered windows and severely damaged this glass ceiling in the dinning room - Credit Fire Photographer Peter Mootz

The tree significantly damaged two rooms, bearing walls and the roof of the house. The home had to be red tagged by the City Building Inspector. The occupants, who had recently rented the house, after moving from Italy for an employment opportunity at Facebook, were displaced by the incident, but thankful they were not injured or killed.

Pictured above - Firefighters Rohrer and Brandt use barrier tape to make sure no one enters the damaged dinning room - Credit Fire Photographer Peter Mootz

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “with the heavy winds today, fire crews have been responding to multiple incidents of power lines and trees down. This family was extremely fortunate they were not injured, or killed. Menlo Park and Atherton are known for their beautiful and mature tree canopy, its normally not a problem, until we have storm like conditions and heavy winds”.

In anticipation of today’s wind event, additional Menlo Fire units and personnel were placed into service Sunday, while others have been deployed to the Kincade Fire in Northern California.

Fire Chief Schapelhouman said “we always prioritize maintaining our daily staffing and unit levels to protect our primary response areas in the Town of Atherton, Cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, unincorporated County Areas and the SLAC National Accelerator and Laboratories. But, as part of the State Fire Master Mutual Aid system, we also deploy fire - rescue personnel and equipment to assist other communities, sometimes across the nation, but currently, only here in Northern California. Today, was the first time we have up staffed our own capabilities based upon the increased potential threat to our own communities and County, while almost simultaneously sending out resources to help others”.