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WILKES-BARRE — The Wilkes-Barre Police Department responded to a “bizarre” report of a tree on fire just before 11 p.m. on Sunday night in Kirby Park.
The tree, which was about 50 yards from the Market Street Bridge, sat about 30 yards from the Susquehanna River. The maple tree was flaming and smoldering when responders arrived. No fire was visible on the ground when the department arrived on scene.
Assistant Fire Chief Bill Murtha explained the tree was hollow and that firefighters were struggling to get flames inside its trunk under control.
“This is bizarre,” he said. “Because it’s hollow, it’s burning like a torch.”
Martha said because the tree was not near any structures, the department’s plan was to limit the the coals as much as possible and then come back in a few hours and check on the status of the tree. He said that enough of the tree had been consumed by the fire that the Wilkes-Barre Department of Public Works would have to remove it on Monday.
The maple tree’s base is 5-6 feet around. The cause of the fire had yet to be determined as of Sunday night.
