PASADENA - City officials say their initial investigation found no immediate connection between the drought and an aging tree that fell near a children’s museum in on Tuesday, injuring eight children, two of them critically.

“An independent arborist will come out to look at the tree,” city spokesman William Boyer said. “There is no tie between the drought and the fall of the tree".

The 75-year-old, 70-foot tall pine tree came crashing down without warning on a group of children at Brookside Park. Two of the injured children are enrolled at the day camp at Kidspace Children’s Museum, which is across from the park.
The injured children were 6 to 8 years old, according to the Pasadena Fire Department.

A search-and-rescue team, firefighters and police officers cut and tore limbs from the tree to search for trapped victims.

Officials from the city’s public works and forestry department have chopped up the tree minimizing any further danger. (Source: Los Angeles Daily News)

Story Date: August 2, 2015