The tree-sized branch on an old cottonwood tree at the corner of Stanley and Lake streets in Medical Lake had finally had enough, breaking off from the tree’s main truck on Tuesday, July 2.
It was a bit of a shock to resident Jess Burdick and Coulton Raczykowski. Burdick said she was standing in the kitchen at about 8:30 a.m. when she heard a noise like firecrackers.
Going outside to investigate, Burdick found the huge branch had fallen on her carport, taking out a residential power line along with it. The branch also took out power to Jake’s Old Fashioned Burgers located just next door, along with a small outbuilding.
Both properties are owned by local realtor Miranda Remington, who immediately called her insurance company and Aardvark Tree Service, who “showed up within half an hour” to provide a bid.
She hired them on the spot, Remington said.
While power to Jake’s remained intact, power to a large storage building was cut. Extension cords were employed from the restaurant to coolers in the storage building to prevent spoilage food inside.
“We suffered no loss at all,” Jake’s co-owner Joe Long said. “Just a day of revenue.”
Burdick’s power was out for about 12 hours.
Burdick’s car, which was under the carport at the time, received no damage.
Remington decided the entire tree, clearly rotting from the inside where the branch snapped off, needed to come down.
“If you know anyone who needs some firewood there’s plenty for the taking,” Long said.
Jake’s was back in business flipping burgers and mixing shakes the following day, absent shade the cottonwood once provided.
Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com.
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