Officials say fire was not intention of village’s tree lighting

The Clam photo by Margo McBeth: The traditional tree lighting ceremony in Sunbury ended in flames Dec. 13 when a spark in the wiring set the dead tree on fire while onlookers stare on. Despite Santa's firetruck escort, no firefighters were on scene at the start of the fire.

By: Bernerd Corral

SUNBURY–A traditional holiday event turned into a catastrophe when Sunbury’s signature Christmas tree caught fire during the annual tree lighting event.

Attendees of the tree lighting ceremony, held on the Sunbury square Dec. 13, expected to see the village’s oldest tree light up, but not in the way it happened.

“The lights came on and it was beautiful for about 30 seconds, then someone started screaming about a fire, and before we knew it the whole thing was up in flames,” said Gerard Arnold, Sunbury resident.

Village Administrator Hugo Ponteras said a spark somewhere in the wiring likely led to the fire after Mayor Sam Skooner flipped the switch to send power to the more than 1,000 lights on the tree.

“The tree did look a little brown when I was stringing on them lights last week,” said Skeeter Thomball, village maintenance employee. “Boy, that thing burned through faster than my wife through my paycheck.”

Ponteras said he thinks the 300-year-old tree was dead before it burned.

“I realize now the tree was probably dead for some time,” he said. “Those dry needles didn’t stand a chance against the 500 volts we had charging through those light strands.”

A fire truck was already present as Santa’s escort into town, but onlookers stood aghast before the flames as they waited for the firefighters to arrive on scene.

“We had loaned out our ladder to Santa,” said Fire Chief Dennis Gilliam. “So when the call came about the tree fire, we had to drive everyone over in the car designated for me, the chief. There were guys in full turnout gear sitting on each other’s laps.

“This just goes to show why voters need to approve our levies when they hit the ballot. We can’t operate with just one engine.”

The calamity was further fueled when firefighters discovered there were no hoses on the truck.

“We took the hoses out because they weigh so much,” said Hugh Jackson, who was dressed as Santa. “We were just driving me into town, so we didn’t think we needed the hoses. We wanted to be more fuel efficient. You know, go green.”

By the time firefighters aimed water at the tree, little more could be salvaged beyond a pile of ashy needles.

“We’re getting a fake tree next year,” Skooner said.