If you ever find yourself strolling in a park and decide to sit among the trees and plants to enjoy the breeze, be sure to pay close attention. Ignorance can lead to unintended consequences, as happened to an American woman who was imprisoned after inadvertently burning down a giant tree in a park. This wasn’t just any tree; it was over 3,500 years old, making it the fifth oldest tree in the world, resulting in the loss of an irreplaceable cultural treasure.
The story began with Sarah Barnes, a 33-year-old from Florida, who was a frequent visitor to Longwood Big Tree Park. This massive park featured giant trees, including a 38-meter tall sequoia that was hollowed out enough to sit inside. Sarah often enjoyed relaxing in the tree’s shade and breeze. In January 2012, Sarah and a friend were inside the tree smoking drugs. The weather was extremely cold, so they decided to light a fire for warmth. Unfortunately, the fire quickly grew out of control, igniting the inside of the tree and causing smoke to billow out.
Firefighters arrived as the fire escalated, but by then, the flames had reached six meters high, making it impossible to save the tree. Sarah was arrested and faced trial, resulting in a 30-month prison sentence. Later, she reached a plea deal with the prosecution to serve five years of probation instead. However, due to two violations of probation terms, she ultimately had to serve her sentence with a reduction of 10 months for the time she spent on probation.
Interestingly, two years after her release from prison, Sarah faced new drug charges when police discovered 22 grams of methamphetamine hidden in her washing machine and 16 grams in a plastic drawer in her bedroom. She told investigators that the drugs were for personal use, not for sale, but she was arrested and put on trial once again.
It’s worth noting that the tree she burned had been estimated to be 3,500 years old in 1993 and was considered the oldest tree in Florida and the fifth oldest in the world, according to the state forestry department. For centuries, it was a popular local landmark, especially in the 19th century when people paid significant amounts to ride horse-drawn carriages through the swamps to view the tree. Its tragic end came because a woman sought a little warmth.
