The people of Port McNeill and those who have visited the region are shocked and outraged following a fire that destroyed the town’s biggest attraction — the world’s largest burl.
A burl is a growth on a tree, sometimes described as a tree tumor and Port McNeill’s biggest claim to fame was that they had the world’s largest one.
The burl was cut from the stump of a Sitka spruce near Port McNeill in 1976 when the old growth grove it came from was logged.
Port McNeill built a small structure around the burl that was put on display near the town’s waterfront and many who visited the town would visit the attraction and take photos with it.
In the evening of Wednesday, May 17th, Port McNeill Fire Rescue responded to a call that the burl was ablaze.
Firefighters and police are still investigating the cause of the blaze, but most people who are commenting on Port McNeill Fire Rescue’s post about the fire seem to believe it was set intentionally.
What will become of the destroyed record-holding attraction is unknown at this time.
This is what’s left of the burl. 😥 pic.twitter.com/u2bUyFFJsZ
— Gaby Wickstrom (@GabyWickstrom) May 18, 2023
