Two tall cottonwood trees behind the Fruitvale Cemetery have been deemed dangerous by WorkSafe B.C., according to Fruitvale’s chief administrative officer Lila Cresswell.
A concerned resident from the community contacted WorkSafe B.C. on Aug. 27 to notify it about two trees with high-tops hanging over the rear of the cemetery.
“He was afraid something might fall,” explained Cresswell. “WorkSafe came out and had a look at the trees and required us to close that portion of the cemetery—which is in the potential fall zone—until the trees could be taken down.”
According to WorkSafe B.C., a dangerous tree refers to trees that are a hazard to a workers due to its location or lean, its physical damage, overhead conditions, deterioration of its limbs or stems and root systems.
The fall-area, which has been closed to the public, was determined based on the height of the tree and the circumference of which it could fall to prevent possible injuries.
The portion of the cemetery posing a risk was closed after an assessment was completed last week. Contractors are expected to arrive within the next two weeks.
“We didn’t think it would take this long to get a contractor on-site but I guess it’s that time of year when everybody’s doing their trees—and with the wind storms, there’s been quite a few concerns with those lovely big cottonwoods,” Cresswell said. “They should be on-site either this week or the beginning of next week. It should be just a day.”