Sylvia Luzania: Eucalyptus trees can burn hot

We’ve all heard the expression, “brown is the new green.” While on my way to work recently, I noticed how all the grass along Rascal Creek is now dead. In the middle of this brown patch is a large group of 40-foot tall Eucalyptus trees. Eucalyptus trees are used to make cough drops. If you crack open a leaf, you can smell the fragrance. Eucalyptus trees are also very oily and flammable. If they catch fire, the trees burn hot and the fire is hard to fight. It’s the same situation along Bear Creek.

I urge homeowners and Merced officials to observe the potential hazards around our city. It would be most unfortunate to cut these trees down, but we have to think of public safety.

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Sylvia Luzania: Eucalyptus trees can burn hot."