Lightning Strike
Gardeners and arborists from Grounds Maintenance clean up the remnants from the once-mighty Meany Sequoia, behind Smith Hall.
On Saturday, Sept. 5 a lone storm cell hit the University of Washington campus and brought with it a bit of lightning. Unfortunately for campus, the lightning bolt hit one of the last trees left on campus planted by UW alumnus and professor Edmond Meany.
Lightning split the tree in quarters all the way to the ground, disintegrating the inside of the tree. This photo shows the aftermath one day later, after crews cleaned up the roadway to allow vehicles access to Allen Library, Gowen Hall and Smith Hall.
Meany was responsible for some of the campus’ tree plantings. He established a seed exchange program with botanical gardens across the country and abroad, nurtured the seeds in his home garden, and transplanted the seedlings to campus.
The tree, estimated by campus arborist Sara Shores as just over 100 years old, was taller than Smith Hall, just beside it. Amazingly no windows were broken on the building when half of the tree exploded to the ground. Pieces of the tree were found as far away as the Suzzallo-Allen Library and the southeast corner of Thomson Hall.
Gardener Steve Kryszko removes unstable branches from the top of the Meany Sequoia after it was hit by lightning.
Gardener Steve Kryszko removes a piece from the top of the tree. Unfortunately the wood was destroyed from the inside-out by the lightning, rendering it unusable for carpentry projects on campus.
The lightning pierced the tree into quarters all the way to the ground, which makes it a poor candidate for reuse projects such as tables or benches according to Finish Carpentry Shop lead Ed McKinley. Facilities Services crews saved some usable remnants for smaller projects.
Facilities Operations Maintenance Specialists Pat Lauterbach and Bill Sieg responded to the lightning strike as well. After lightning hit the tree, the current traveled through the ground to the Suzzallo-Allen Library where it “fried” one of the fire alarm panels.
