GEORGE TOWN: It had stood proudly by the side of the famous Polo Ground for generations, providing shade for the thousands who passed below.
But in just hours, an 85-year-old angsana tree along Jalan Sepoy Lines was reduced to pulp after it caught fire.
The heritage tree, near a college campus, was engulfed in flames in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined, although authorities are investigating if there was human negligence.
Jalan Perak Fire Station chief A’azelan Hassan said the department received a call at 3.30am and a team of five firemen in several vehicles were sent to the scene.
“The burning tree later collapsed and struck the college fence. Firemen continued efforts until the fire was fully extinguished,” he said.
The incident also caused traffic congestion during the morning rush hour as firemen and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) personnel cleared debris from the road.
The operation ended at about 2pm.
The damaged properties included the perimeter fence of the RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus as well as nearby Tenaga Nasional Bhd structures.
Yesterday, MBPP contractors were still removing the massive tree stump and branches that had blocked part of the road.
Universiti Sains Malaysia botanist Dr Farah Alia Nordin said one possible cause of the fire might be the prolonged hot weather.
Angsana trees, she said, belonged to the legume family (Fabaceae), and are known for their softer wood which makes them more vulnerable to fire.
“Hopefully, it wasn’t a case of someone carelessly tossing a smouldering cigarette butt into the tree,” she added.
Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) is a fast-growing tropical hardwood species commonly planted along Penang’s roads for shade.
Known for its broad canopy and yellow seasonal blooms, the tree can live for decades and has become part of the island’s urban heritage.
