Mill Valley Man's Tree Cutting Attempt Goes Wrong, Neighbors Evacuated

MILL VALLEY (KPIX 5) – A Mill Valley man's attempt to cut down a tree went wrong Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of some of his neighbors.

Authorities said a homeowner who recently moved to Marin Drive tried to take down a 100 foot pine tree around 6:30 p.m. The fire department was called after it was discovered the

He was 80 percent through when it was found that the tree could fall in the wrong direction. That's when the fire department was called.

"The tree fell slightly, causing the resident no longer to continue to be able to take it down," said Battalion Chief Michael St. John of the Southern Marin Fire District. "Unfortunately it was adjacent, next to PG&E power lines."

At first, three homes were evacuated because of the trees and the pitch of the hill. PG&E was called in and they cut power to 10 homes in this neighborhood while they got the tree down.

The tree came down safely around 9:20 p.m. Crews were attempting to remove the tree from the property late Tuesday night.