This Red Oak was struck by lightning in early July 2009. This was a healthy tree that had could have lived for a couple of hundred more years, if only a lightning protection system had been installed.
This is a picture of the owner in front of the former tree, which we dubbed "the toothpick factory". Do not confuse the look on his face with satisfaction...he just found out his insurance company won't cover the cleanup bill. Internally, he is swearing and punch-dancing his rage out.
So what is a Lightning Protection System? A lightning protection system has three main components:
1. A lightning collection tip set high in the crown of a tree
2. A copper wire that runs down the trunk of the tree, attached by copper nails.
3. A grounding rod set 6-8 feet into the ground to safely ground the voltage.
Will a lightning protection system attract lightning to my tree? Yes, like a moth to a flame, or lightning to a golf club. The key here is that we are giving the electricity a safe ground without doing damage to your tree. A tree with a lightning protection system can be struck multiple times and still be effective.
Call today for a consultation with one of our Certified Arborists to see if one of your trees is a good candidate for a lightning protection system!
