On Saturday, July 28, 2012, at 10:56 a.m., Arcadia Fire Department responded to a tree fire with a person trapped in the tree in the 1400 block of Orlando Drive in the City of Arcadia. Engine 107, Truck 105, Rescue Ambulance 106, and Battalion 105, responded to the scene.
Upon arrival, firefighters witnessed a palm tree fire with a tree trimmer, who appeared to have been electrocuted, harnessed approximately 20 feet up in the blazing tree. Within moments of arrival the fire burned through the harness and the tree trimmer fell to the ground. The 31-year-old male victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Southern California Edison Company (SCE) and CALOSHA were immediately requested to the scene. Suppression measures were hampered by energized power lines creating heavy arcing in the area. A small vegetation fire was also ignited to the rear of an adjoining residence in the 1400 block of Oaklawn Road.
Electricity has been shut off to the neighborhood while firefighters extinguish the remaining fire and Arcadia Police conduct their investigation.