ESCONDIDO, Calif. (KGTV) - A large eucalyptus tree fell just feet away from homes in Escondido Friday morning, narrowly missing homes.
The tree fell along 3rd Avenue near Fig Street, damaging the metal framework of a median fence.
"Oh my gosh! It missed two houses," said 87-year-old Gracie, who lives next door to the tree that she says she's been concerned about for years. "It just looked like it was growing so spindly with branches out. It just looked like it could break easily."
The tree was rooted in the front yard of an empty home which neighbors say has been undergoing renovations for at least a year.
"It rotted off," said neighbor Sheldon Boren. "It's just part of nature, you know. It's self trimming."
"That much rain water, just the weight was too much," said Jonathan Brothers, who also lives next door. Holding his 9-month old son, Wesley, he checked out the damage and considered the sturdiness of other trees along the street.
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"I'm not too worried," said Brothers. "There's always some chance of it happening but they've stood there for at least a hundred years."
Gracie was not so sure.
"I'm going to call my tree guy today," she said.
The consensus among neighbors and the tree removal crew was the tree was ailing; showing signs of rot near the roots.
The rain was likely the last straw.
