LR man says he reported tree leaning to Entergy before fire

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Monday, workers removed a fallen tree at Robbie Brewer's home left after last week's storm.

"We've been out here since 11 o'clock today," said Brewer.

He says the storm caused a tree to fall, knocking power out, then sparking a small fire at his neighbor's home on Monica Drive. The blaze started around seven Friday night.

The person inside made it out safely.

But Brewer says the fire could have been avoided, telling FOX16 he called Entergy to report the tree leaning on a service line just a few days before it fell. At the time, he says an Entergy worker came out to look at the problem and that's it.

"He said we'll unhook power to your house and the neighbor's house while I deal with it. But we are not going to touch it," said Brewer.

Entergy spokesperson David Lewis says there are two reasons why the company doesn't remove or trim trees on private properties. For one, there are legal issues gaining access.

"The other reason is a matter of costs. If we took on the obligation of trimming every tree or branch, that would costs millions and millions of dollars to execute," said Lewis.

Bottom line, when a leaning tree is not on the right-of-way, he says it is the customers responsibility to take care of the problem.

So that's why Brewer is doing lawn work. After his experience, he has advice for other homeowners concerned about leaning trees.

"Just go ahead and get it down and get it out of the way," said Brewer.