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Cactus topples, damages Phoenix home
The cactus went through the ceiling over a part of a home that housed an art studio for two people.
PHOENIX - Glendale firefighters responded to an unusual call on the morning of Sept. 7 after part of a cactus toppled onto a home.
The Glendale Fire Department tweeted out photos of what appears to be a giant saguaro cactus in front of a home near the intersection of 35th and Peoria Avenues.
The cactus reportedly measured 45 feet tall before the collapse. The top half of the cactus fell over and onto the roof of the home, causing part of the ceiling to collapse. The home that was damaged was being rented by a family at the time the incident happened.
Neighbors respond
The cactus reportedly crashed into the home on Sunday, Sept. 6.
"Wasn't even windy," said Paulo Pereira, who lives in the area. "It just decided 'that's it. I can't hold myself up anymore.'"
The cactus poked a hole through the roof over the home's garage, an area that served as an art student for a mother and her daughter.
"My mother and I spent hours each day in that room, so we are at the right place at the right time," said Marianna Diniz.
Plant was showing signs of distress
The plant had seen better days. Not only was the cactus brown and rotting, it had already lost two arms, and was leaning.
"These area extremely large, very heavy, and as you can see, can cause a lot of damage," cars Captain Ashley Locsh with the Glendale Fire Department.
No one was hurt, but for the residents, it's now on to the cleaning up and repairs. Meanwhile, fire crews think the structure of the house if good, even if the garage will need plenty of repairs.