Tree collapse displaces apartment residents

A tree came down on a residence in Springfield Friday, displacing 10 people from seven apartment units due to damage on the rear of the River Street building that made it uninhabitable, according to the Springfield Fire Department.

   

ree collapse displaces apartment residents By KELSEY CHRISTENSEN kchristensen@eagletimes.com Tom Bishop watches as Ted Knox Tree Service, LLC removing a fallen tree on Monday. The tree, which fell on Friday, June 16th for unknown reasons, left Bishop’s River Street building badly damaged, displacing nine tenants from seven apartments. — KELSEY CHRISTENSENTom Bishop watches as Ted Knox Tree Service, LLC removing a fallen tree on Monday. The tree, which fell on Friday, June 16th for unknown reasons, left Bishop’s River Street building badly damaged, displacing nine tenants from seven apartments. — KELSEY CHRISTENSENSPRINGFIELD, Vt. — A tree came down on a residence in Springfield Friday, displacing 10 people from seven apartment units due to damage on the rear of the River Street building that made it uninhabitable, according to the Springfield Fire Department. Fire Captain John Claflin responded to the emergency call on Friday evening, at approximately 4:46 p.m., at which time possible power line involvement was reported. Once there, Claflin confirmed that all occupants were out of the building and power and gas were swiftly shut off. It is unknown what caused the tree to fall. “There’s a steep bank over there” said Tom Bishop, owner of the 69 River St. property. “So maybe all this rain [caused the tree to fall].” The Springfield Fire Department also called the American Red Cross. “We sent out team members. They went there and helped nine individuals and provided on-scene assistance,” said Dan Brown, a member of the Board of Directors for the northeastern chapter of the Red Cross. “If people don’t have places to go [in these situations], we offer and say ‘Do you have a place to go?’ But it’s up to the individual.” Five Red Cross volunteers arrived on the scene and were able to provide emergency services to the families. According to Rob Mather, a Springfield local who’s been volunteering with the Red Cross for 10 years, the Red Cross was able to put up several of the affected families at the Hartness House, while the remaining families found their own temporary lodgings. “The ones that needed housing, we were able to find housing for them,” Mather said. Captain Claflin helped the tenants retrieve some of their wares, like medications, from the residence before they left the scene. The owner of the property’s son, Steve Bishop, contacted tree removal services who advised him that they would remove the tree on Monday. None of the residents at the River Street apartments were injured in the incident. “Someone must have been watching over us, because there were no injuries,” said Bishop. “Thank goodness.” With the owner advising that they remain off-site until further notice, the tenants aren’t expecting to return to River Street anytime soon. According to the regional manager for the Springfield Department of Fire Safety, Bruce Martin, the owner of the building will have to submit a construction permit in order for the Department of Fire Safety to repair the damage. According to Claflin, the tree resulted in structural damage to the ceilings and walls as well as to a sewer vent pipe. While the Department of Fire Safety received a referral from the fire department alerting them of the incident, at press time the department has not been contacted by the owner. “[The displaced families] were all advised to reach out to Springfield Housing Authority,” said Mather. However, Tom Bishop plans to get everything sorted for the return of the seven families that once called 69 River St. home, though he’s unsure when the repairs will be completed. “We’ll fix it up so they can get back in their home again,” Bishop said.