No injuries were reported after part of a cottonwood tree fell into the front of a mobile home in the Blue Valley Mobile Home Park.
The incident happened shortly before noon. Manhattan Fire Department Capt. Brian Force says the homeowner escaped safely out the backdoor.
“The gentleman here was inside the home, actually cooking a pizza for dinner and sitting in his living room when the tree came crashing down. No injuries, kinda scared him a little bit and he was able to get out alright,” he said.
The impact did significant damage to the front of the mobile home, near the entrance and kitchen area. Force says It’s unclear why the tree fell, though the homeowner reported saying he had been told it was at risk for falling.
“It’s hard to tell in a large cottonwood tree, they don’t have real good root systems, so it’s hard to tell what would’ve or could’ve caused it,” he said.
The mobile home park is responsible for tree removal, though it’s unclear what other responsibility they may have. The park owns the lot.
Risk Reduction Services is completing a damage investigation and advised the homeowner not to return to the home until it was deemed structurally safe. A damage estimate is currently pending.
