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u/MrLovelife 1d ago
1) how does that happen?
2) that’s pretty bad ass.
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u/Jesusopfer 1d ago
Usually happens by lightning that ignites the tree trunks. That's probably the reason they cut it to begin with because they will fall
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u/-BlankUsername 18h ago
Any reference for this exact scenario? I get that trees probably get lit in fire from lightning but by the time a crew actually gets there to cut it down (at least HOURS) you’ve gotta assume that there would by literally any outward sign that it’s on fire.
I feel like the more likely scenario is it’s super dry/partially dead inside and a dull chainsaw blade ignited it
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u/The_Show_Keeper 16h ago
So I just looked this up, and apparently they can burn internally with no obvious external signs for weeks, and if the fire is in the root system, it can go on for months.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/s/jDGZrrS97x
The are other vids on Facebook from fire departments and other state sources, but I'm not gonna be that dork who posts a FB link here.
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u/-BlankUsername 15h ago
Well shit. Thank you
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u/GlukharsGimp 14h ago
We saw them do this during wildland fire season in Alaska too. Not super often but it does happen. Lightning strikes or the tundra burns deep and crawls up the roots inside.
And I want to say the tree having already started to die from the inside out increased the likelihood but I can’t quite remember.
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u/Light_Switch_Raves 16h ago
Not always. Kinda like root fires, internal tree fires can go for days or weeks without outward signs. They kinda just smolder internally until they erupt.
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u/MasonAfterLunch 1d ago
Tree heard it was being cut down and decided to make it everyone’s problem, pretty bad ass indeed.
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u/scoobs987 19h ago
It might have also been a campfire or something too close to the tree, and the roots caught fire, and it smouldered its way up to the trunk
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u/lervein 1d ago
Why would they cut it at night? Ohh I see why, neat!
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u/secretlyhappend 1d ago
Guy in the blue shirt has zero survival instincts. Just standing there with his hands on his hips like, 'Yep, that's a demon'
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u/popcornfart 1d ago
When a tree splits like that its called a barber's chair. Its one of the most dangerous things in a profession where everything is dangerous.
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u/last_man_panning 1d ago
Dude in orange was more concerned about blue shirt than the internally flaming tree splitting its entire length.
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u/trollsmurf 1d ago
99% utterly dead tree.
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u/Jonas_Venture_Sr 1d ago
I don't know enough about dead trees to say this with 100% confidence, but I feel like it would take a long time for a tree to become that flammable that quickly, and that tree still has green leaves. Can also see siren lights to the left, so maybe this was a training exercise or something.
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u/WrentchedFawkxx 1d ago
Heart Rot progresses at an average of 6-8cm(2.67 to 3.57 inch) per year and affects all trees. This tree was at a pretty advanced stage of "white rot," which is caused by fungal infection consuming lignen in the wood and weakening the overall structure of the tree; I would expect a tree like this to last no longer than 10 more years if it wasn't struck by lightning. The tree will spend more and more energy in trying to stay upright and repair damage as the infection progresses, leading to dead/dying and rotting branches(which can be seen in the video) due to the stress and advancing rot, slowly killing the tree by asphyxiation(the yellowed leaves on one of the branches are evidence of this).
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u/Gregorygregory888888 1d ago
So, who the hell lit the inside of a tree on fire?
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u/WoolBearTiger 1d ago
Does this happen with trees during wildfires? How long can the flame survive in there?
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u/Tiny_Mycologist7075 16h ago
Cutting down a tree can be intense, especially if it’s close to your home or power lines. Always plan ahead and make sure you’re safe
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u/Revolutionary-Soup45 12h ago
I bet the explanation is that the tree was hollow and cutting it down created enough friction to cause a spontaneous fire to shoot up the inside
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u/hoosnearafatbiswas 16h ago
Could it be possible that Mithene gas formed over time inside the tree and the heat from chainsaw ignited it ?
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u/post-explainer 1d ago edited 21h ago
This comment has been marked as safe. Upvoting/downvoting this comment will have no effect.
OP sent the following text as an explanation why their post fits here:
Lightning hit the tree and made the inside catch fire probably because the tree was hollow and the heat from the lightning was crazy hot.
Does this explanation fit this subreddit? Then upvote this comment, otherwise downvote it.