After measuring the circumference of the old bur oak at 19 feet, Capt. David Windrow gazes at the big break which occurred early this week. With him is Lt. Scott Ellis.

Firefighters practice chainsaw skills; wood available for carvers
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Brentwood Fire & Rescue personnel on Friday began trimming the fallen branches of the historic bur oak tree that stands in front of the Brentwood Library. For them, it’s a training exercise. For the city, it’s just the first of many steps that will be taken over the next few days and weeks to remove – and preserve – the city landmark.

Showing the true scale of the massive old oak tree, Capt. David Whitlow and Lt. Scott Ellis measure its circumference at 19 feet.

On Friday, Capt. David Windrow and Lt. Scott Ellis measured tree’s circumference at 19 feet. Though its age has not been definitively determined estimates have ranged from 100 to 400 years. A goal of the city before the trunk is permanently removed is to try to determine how old it actually is – or was, as the case may be.

Wood will be available to woodcarvers and others who want a piece of city history.

Over the next few days, with the help of Ray Sandusky – president of the Tennessee Association of Woodturners – the firefighters will practice their chain-saw skills by cutting up the already fallen limbs into manageable pieces. A private contractor will then be hired by the city’s parks department to take off the remaining limb and eventually grind up the stump.

A goal of the city commission and city staff, community relations director Linda Lynch communicated Friday,  is to preserve as much of the unrotted wood as possible for wood carvers and others who want a piece of the historic tree.

Details will soon be released on how and where residents and carvers interested can pick it up.