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Vacaville Homeowner Says He Warned City About Tree That Fell On His Home

VACAVILLE (CBS13) — A Vacaville homeowner is adding up the damage after he says a diseased city tree he warned was a hazard finally came crashing down on his home.

Branches from the one mighty oak tree crashed from the city property line over the fence and into the ceiling of a home.

"I'd just gone inside, just put the pups in, and then crash, the tree came down," said Brad Hanson.

He had just left his backyard and stepped inside his Vacaville home when the 100-foot tree collapsed on top of it.

"What it sounded like is it sounded like a series of bookcases being pushed over, and I was thinking, 'What downstairs is bookcases?'" he said.

The diseased tree, uprooted at the base of its trunk missed Hanson, his wife, and their dogs.

"The biggest thing is that nobody was hurt," he said.

Photos from shortly after show the crushing blow the oak tree gave their home, ripping through the ceiling of their family room where the entrance is now draped with caution tape.

Hanson says he warned the city the tree was unhealthy.

"I brought it to people's attention that this was an issue, this particular tree, I didn't complain about any other tree, this tree is the tree I complained about," he said.

Vacaville's public works director says the city is investigating the toppled tree's history, how arborists diagnosed its health in past years. He says there's no specific policy on when a tree must be removed.

City crews will continue to clean up the family's backyard, but repairs on the home could stretch well into the holiday season.

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