A 35-foot artificial Christmas tree that was donated to the city of Stockton’s Weber Point several years ago was devoured by flames early Monday morning, rendering it a total loss.
“It’s very sad. I mean, kids come out here to look at that tree,” one Stockton resident told local NBC News affiliate KCRA.
Investigators believe the cause of the blaze was electrical because the fire started on the upper portion of the tree. The fire was reported to the Stockton Fire Department at 2 a.m. and KCRA notes it cost them approximately $12,000 in damages. Money for the lights was also donated to the city.
Meanwhile, several hours south in Costa Mesa a 90-foot Christmas tree was also eaten up by flames in front of the upscale Westin Hotel and near the South Coast Plaza mall earlier this month.
According to UPI, the fire took place on the morning of Monday, December 14. South Coast Plaza mall officials said it takes one whole month to decorate the tree with ornaments and 20,000 lights; most of the lights were melted.
#California: On Dec14th #CostaMesa a 90 foot #ChristmasTree destroyed – Arson is suspected. https://t.co/7Nok5NEFwV pic.twitter.com/NOuK9TXG9r
— Raven*H⚓️U*Wolf (@RavenHUWolf) December 25, 2015
Firefighters said it only took a few minutes for the tree to burn down, and that mall and hotel visitors were moving their vehicles to avoid getting hit by the flames.
Photo: file
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