<strong>From staff reports</strong>

With three homes damaged due to falling tree limbs in the last two weeks, three storm related calls this past weekend alone, and with hurricane season here along with potentially violent summer storms, Burton fire officials are advising residents to “scan their yard” for loose debris, along with trees and limbs that are endangering their homes.

Since April of this year, the Burton Fire District has responded to more than 10 emergency responses for electrical power lines or trees down, and three emergency responses for tree limbs damaging homes. To date, no injuries were reported in these incidents; however, two families were displaced, including a family of nine this past weekend.

Just past 7 a.m. on July 13, Burton EMTs assisted an elderly resident on Glaze Drive when a tree limb fell causing damages to the home and a wheelchair ramp. The family had to be relocated as a result. The Burton Fire District helped coordinate assistance from a local church to repair the ramp.

Just after 6 a.m. on July 28, Burton firefighters responded to a tree limb that came through the roof of a home on Corner Loop causing heavy damage to the kitchen area. Power to the home had to be secured due to the damages.

Just after 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 9, Burton firefighters responded to a tree that collapsed on a home on Alexandra Loop causing heavy damage to the home. A family of nine, three adults and six children, were displaced. Red Cross was called to assist the family.

Burton Fire District officials remind citizens that these weather-related incidents were not caused by tropical storm or hurricane force winds but routine summer storms. Officials advise residents to secure or remove loose yard debris and trees or branches that threaten your home. If such trees or limbs cannot be removed, then avoid those areas of the home in weather conditions, and consider that risk when deciding to evacuate during hurricane warnings.