Emergency Tree Service

When Seconds Count, We're Ready to Respond

Tree emergencies happen without warning. A sudden storm brings down a massive branch onto your roof. High winds topple a tree across your driveway. A structural failure sends limbs crashing onto vehicles or power lines. In these critical moments, you need immediate professional help from a team that’s equipped, experienced, and ready to respond.

Seattle Tree Trim and Removal maintains a dedicated emergency response team available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We understand that tree emergencies don’t wait for convenient business hours, and neither do we. When you call our emergency hotline, you reach real people who assess your situation immediately and dispatch crews based on urgency and safety concerns.

Our emergency teams arrive with specialized equipment, extensive training, and the expertise to handle the most challenging situations safely. We work quickly to secure your property, remove hazards, prevent further damage, and restore safety. Whether you’re facing storm aftermath, sudden tree failure, or any urgent tree-related crisis, we’re here to help when you need us most.

What Constitutes a Tree Emergency

Immediate Danger Situations

Trees or Branches on Structures: Any tree or large branch that has fallen onto homes, garages, sheds, or other buildings requires immediate attention. The weight can cause structural damage that worsens over time, and movement during removal could create additional harm without professional handling.

Trees on Vehicles: Fallen trees or branches crushing cars, trucks, or other vehicles need prompt removal to assess damage and begin insurance claims processes. Improper removal can cause additional vehicle damage.

Trees Blocking Critical Access: When trees block driveways, roads, or emergency access routes, rapid removal is essential for safety and functionality. This is especially critical for medical emergencies, fire department access, or business operations.

Hanging or Partially Failed Trees: Trees that have partially fallen but remain suspended in other trees or structures are extremely dangerous. These “hangers” or “widow makers” can fall unpredictably, creating life-threatening hazards until professionally removed.

Trees on Power Lines: Any tree contact with electrical lines is an emergency requiring immediate professional attention and utility company coordination. Never approach trees touching power lines—they’re potentially lethal.

Storm-Damaged Trees Threatening to Fall: Trees with major structural damage, severe leans, split trunks, or uprooted root systems pose imminent danger. Even if they haven’t fallen yet, professional assessment and mitigation are urgent priorities.

Trees Compromising Safety: Any tree situation creating immediate danger to people, whether blocking evacuation routes, threatening to fall into occupied areas, or presenting other life-safety risks.

Get A Free Quote

Step 1: Immediate Contact and Assessment

When you call our emergency hotline, trained staff answer immediately—not voicemail or answering services. We gather critical information about your situation:

Nature and extent of the emergency
Safety concerns and immediate dangers
Property address and access details
Contact information and callback numbers
Any utility involvement or special circumstances

We assess urgency, provide immediate safety guidance, and dispatch the appropriate crew and equipment.

Step 2: Rapid Crew Mobilization

Our emergency response teams are on-call and ready to mobilize quickly. We maintain:

Dedicated emergency vehicles with specialized equipment
Crews trained in hazardous situation response
Lighting equipment for nighttime operations
Safety gear for all conditions
Communication equipment for coordination

Most emergency responses begin within 2-4 hours of your call, often much faster depending on circumstances and our current location.

Step 3: On-Site Safety Assessment

Upon arrival, our crew leader conducts a comprehensive hazard assessment before beginning work:

Identifying all dangers including electrical hazards
Establishing safe work zones and access routes
Verifying structural stability of damaged buildings
Confirming utility status and involvement
Planning safest removal strategy

Safety is never compromised for speed. We work as quickly as conditions safely allow.

Step 4: Hazard Mitigation and Stabilization

Our first priority is preventing additional damage and securing immediate safety:

Removing weight from structures when safe to do so
Stabilizing partially failed trees
Establishing barriers around dangerous areas
Coordinating with utility companies when necessary
Implementing temporary protective measures

Step 5: Emergency Tree Removal

Using specialized techniques and equipment appropriate for emergency conditions:

Careful sectioning to control every piece
Rigging systems for precise lowering
Crane assistance when conditions warrant
Protection of remaining property and structures

Emergency Situations We Handle

Storm Damage Response

Seattle’s winter storms can devastate landscapes in hours. High winds, heavy snow, ice accumulation, and saturated soils combine to cause widespread tree failures.

Our Storm Response Includes:

Rapid assessment of multiple damaged trees
Priority removal based on danger levels
Clearing access routes and driveways
Removing trees from structures and vehicles
Hanging branch removal and securing damaged trees
Comprehensive debris cleanup
Follow-up pruning to prevent future failures

Storm Preparation Services: For clients anticipating severe weather, we offer pre-storm pruning and assessment to reduce failure risk and identify vulnerable trees before conditions worsen.

Fallen Tree Removal

Complete tree failures from any cause require immediate professional attention.

Specialized Removal for:

Trees on residential structures and roofs
Trees crushing vehicles or equipment
Trees across roadways or access points
Multiple trees fallen in compound situations
Trees in water features or sensitive areas

Our Approach: Systematic sectioning that prevents additional damage, controlled removal prioritizing structure protection, efficient debris processing and removal, and site restoration once trees are removed.

Structural Failures and Splits

Trees can fail structurally even without storms through decay, disease, or inherent defects.

Common Failure Types:

Split trunks or major branches
Root failures and uprooting
Broken or hanging branches
Decay-related collapses
Wind-throw in shallow-rooted species

Our Response: Evaluation of remaining tree stability, safe removal of failed portions, assessment of remaining tree viability, and recommendations for tree retention or complete removal.

Hanging and Suspended Branches

Partially detached branches caught in tree canopies are among the most dangerous tree situations.

Why Hangers Are Dangerous:

Unpredictable fall timing
Can dislodge from wind or minor disturbances
Often under tension creating spring-back risks
May fall when other branches are disturbed
Difficult for non-professionals to assess

Our Expertise: Rigging techniques for controlled lowering, recognition of tension and compression forces, systematic dismantling preventing sudden releases, and protection of people and property throughout removal.

Trees on Power Lines

Electrical hazards require special protocols and utility coordination.

Critical Safety Rules:

Never approach trees touching power lines
Assume all lines are energized and dangerous
Keep everyone away from the area
Contact utility companies immediately
Wait for professional tree services with line clearance training

Our Capabilities:

Utility coordination and communication
Line clearance qualified arborists on staff
Proper equipment and insulation for electrical work
Understanding of electrical hazards and safe approach distances
Experience working with Seattle City Light and PSE