High winds blew a 60-foot elm-tree limb weighing more than three tons onto a house at 2509 Blake on Thursday afternoon.

Luckily for the home’s owner, Tomas Cruz, the tree’s own branches cushioned the fall, causing minimal structural damage to the home.

The massive limb fell on the attached carport, missing the house. Cruz, who owns the Chinese restaurant Chinatown, learned of the fallen tree from his stepson.

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“The first thing I said was, uh-oh, this is not good,” said Cruz Friday.

As workers from High Rise Tree Care Service stood on the roof using chain saws to cut the remainder of the tree, a van full of Cruz’s family members gathered to watch.

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Scott Daniels, owner of High Rise Tree Care Service, responded to the call and explained what happened.

The center of the tree had become “included” meaning the bark had grown into itself. When this happens, the tree absorbs more water than usual and becomes so heavy and saturated, it cracks. The final split usually occurs in high winds when the tree cannot sustain its own heaviness and succumbs to the combination of high wind and its own weight.

Prevention is the key, according to Daniels. His company gives free estimates and will inspect trees for weakness and structure defects. Most of the time, trees just need a trimming to make them shorter and lighter.

The fate of this tree is clear.

“It’s got to go,” said Daniels.