City Manager Praises First Responders at Scene of Fallen Tree Incident

City Manager Michael J. Beck said the city’s response to the tree collapse incident Tuesday in front of the Kidspace Children’s Museum at Brookside Park was no less than commendable and something he is proud about.

“While our thoughts and prayers are with the injured children and their families, I cannot overemphasize enough how extremely proud I am of the city employees who responded to this tragic incident,” Beck said in a report to the Pasadena City Council.

Eight children were injured in the incident, six of whom were treated at the park and released and two others taken to the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. A third child was taken there but released after treatment.

Beck mentioned particularly the efforts of the Pasadena firefighters and police officers who engaged in a joint rescue operation to get the kids out of the tangle of branches that fell on most of them when the tree collapsed.

Within minutes, the rescuers had accounted for more than 30 children who were given emergency medical care on the scene, some transported by ambulances to the hospital, Beck said.

An independent arborist hired by the city is still trying to determine why the 75-year old pine tree collapsed Tuesday and injured at least eight children as they were getting ready to go home.

A report about the possible cause could be released this week, officials said.

Earlier, the city’s arborist and other investigators said they could not see any indication why the tree collapsed. City authorities said it could not have been because of the drought because the tree and all other trees on Brookside Park were being watered regularly in spite of water use restrictions.

The two critically injured children had recovered sufficuently to be released Monday, August 3.