Cal Baptist University Dorm Damaged By Downed Tree

RIVERSIDE, CA — A large pine tree was toppled by a gust of Santa Ana wind Wednesday on the Cal Baptist University campus in Riverside, falling onto a two-story dormitory, damaging the building but not injuring the occupants.

The downed tree was reported about 11:50 a.m. in the 8000 block of Magnolia Avenue, according to the Riverside Fire Department.

Battalion Chief Bruce Vanderhorst said that an engine crew and truck company were sent to the location and found the large pine snapped in two, with more than half of the conifer laying on the side of the dorm.

Firefighters checked for students possibly hurt or trapped, but all occupants were fine, according to Vanderhorst.

He said the damage temporarily displaced 17 students, but the university was taking care of their shelter.

Campus officials also hired a contractor to chop up and remove the remnants of the pine, the battalion chief said.

Northeast winds were gusting up to 40 mph at the time of the incident.

There was no word regarding the age of the tree, which may have been weakened by the two previous Santa Ana windstorms that occurred in January.