Emergency tree service in Ontario, CA means removing a tree or large limb that has already fallen, or is about to, onto a house, a fence, a car or a driveway after Santa Ana winds or a storm. The first step is safety: stay away from any downed wires and call SCE if lines are involved. Then call us for storm damage at (909) 479-2614, and we will tell you honestly how soon a crew can get there and what can be done right away.
First steps after a tree comes down
Before anything else, these steps keep people safe and help with insurance later:
- Get clear. Keep everyone away from the damaged part of the house and out from under any hanging limbs.
- Treat every wire as live. Never touch a line or anything in contact with it. Call Southern California Edison at 1-800-611-1911, or 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Take photos. Photograph the tree, the damage and the surroundings before anything is moved.
- Call your insurance company. Many policies cover removal of a tree that fell on a covered structure.
- Call us. Tell us where the tree is, what it hit and whether lines are involved.
Why Ontario gets so much wind damage
Ontario sits on the open valley floor below the Cajon Pass, right where Santa Ana winds accelerate on their way to the coast. During strong events, the National Weather Service in San Diego issues wind advisories and high-wind warnings across the Inland Empire. Gusts in the west end can topple shallow-rooted trees in soil dried by long summers, and they snap limbs on dense or poorly pruned canopies.
Eucalyptus, pines and pepper trees are the most common trees we see down after a wind event here, along with palms that shed heavy fronds into streets and pools. Trees along open corridors such as Mountain Avenue, Euclid Avenue and the streets around Ontario International Airport are especially exposed.
What we do on a storm call
On a storm-damage job, the goal is to make the situation safe, stop further damage and then clean up:
- Assess. We look at what is holding the tree, where the weight is, and whether it is still moving.
- Stabilize. Limbs resting on a roof are often under tension. We cut them in a controlled order so nothing springs or drops onto the house.
- Remove. The tree is taken off the structure and cut into manageable pieces, using ropes and rigging where needed.
- Clear. Brush is chipped, wood is hauled and the driveway or yard is opened back up.
- Document. We can note what we found and what we did for your insurance claim.
If roof damage is involved, you will need a roofer to tarp or repair it once the tree is off.
Downed trees and power lines
If a tree is on a power line or a line is down, do not go near it and do not let anyone else. Line-clearance work is for SCE and its qualified crews. Read the SCE vegetation management FAQ for how the utility handles trees in its lines. We work on the tree once SCE has made it safe.
Parkway trees that fall
If a City parkway tree falls into the street or onto your property, report it to the City of Ontario through Parks and Streets Maintenance at (909) 395-2600. Fallen City trees are the City's responsibility, and they may clear them directly. If one damaged your property, document it and contact the City.
Preventing the next emergency
Most storm damage is predictable. Dead limbs, cracked stems, dense canopies and trees with damaged roots are the ones that fail. Tree trimming before the wind season and a tree health assessment on any tree you are worried about lower the odds of a tree on the roof. Our Santa Ana wind prep guide lists warning signs.
Storm damage in nearby cities
We handle storm calls across the west Inland Empire, including Fontana and Rialto, which sit even closer to the mouth of the Cajon Pass and often see the strongest gusts.
Hanging limbs and split trees
Not every emergency is a tree on the ground. A broken limb hung up in the canopy, sometimes called a hanger, can drop without warning days after a storm. A trunk that split down the middle can finish failing in the next gust. Keep people and cars out from under these and call us. We remove hangers with ropes from a lift or by a climber working above them, never from directly below.
If a tree has fallen but hit nothing, such as one lying across the lawn or the back of the lot, it is not an emergency. Take photos, keep children and pets away, and schedule removal at a normal time.
Common questions
Do you offer emergency tree service at night?
Call for storm damage at any time and tell us what happened. We will tell you honestly how soon a crew can get there. If the tree is on a power line, call SCE first. If the situation is a danger to people right now, call 911. We do not promise a fixed response time we cannot keep.
Will my insurance pay for tree removal after a storm?
Many homeowner policies cover removal of a tree that fell on a covered structure, such as the house or a detached garage, sometimes with a cap. A tree that fell in the yard without hitting anything is often not covered. Take photos before anything is moved, and check with your insurance company about your policy.
A neighbor's tree fell on my property. Who is responsible?
Responsibility usually depends on whether the tree was healthy and what each owner's insurance covers. A healthy tree blown over in a storm is often handled by the owner of the damaged property's insurance. If the tree was dead or clearly hazardous, the neighbor may be responsible. Talk to your insurance company before work starts.
Can you remove a tree leaning on my house?
Yes, once we confirm no power lines are involved. A tree leaning on a house is often under tension, so we cut it in a planned order with ropes and rigging so nothing shifts onto the roof. Keep everyone out of the rooms under the tree until it is off.