Setting Industry Standards
L to R: Journeyman Tree Trimmer Kaleb Fillmore, Foreman Juan Cervantes, Journeyman Tree Trimmer John Church, & Foreman William Underhill
Pine Grove – 26-year IBEW 1245 member Juan Cervantes knows trees.
A line clearance tree trimmer, he currently works as a Foreman for Arbor Works.
Cervantes and his crew were downing a 105-foot Ponderosa Pine near Pine Grove that had grown within 15 feet of power lines.
Foreman Juan Cervantes
“It has to be taken down,” said Cervantes. “They’re very concerned about it coming down,” he said.
While Cervantes’ traffic control crew managed oncoming vehicles, another crew helped pull brush.
Then his crew began the painstaking work of climbing and assessing strategies to remove the tree safely.
“My climber is going to be doing all the work above.,“ said Cervantes. “He is going to begin from the ground up. Once he gets into the higher part, he’s going to cut small tops. We might be using a little bit of rigging on it just because of the power lines, but we’ll see once he gets up there whether or not he’s going to need some rigging. Then we will get our rigging equipment.”
Journeyman Tree Trimmer Kaleb Fillmore
Business Representative and former Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Francisco “Cisco” Ferreyra accompanied the crew. “Pine Grove, California has a special place in my heart. It’s where I first became a Foreman in the Line Clearance industry. Foreman William “Billy” Underhill and Foreman Juan Cervantes were both my Foremen at one point in my career eighteen to nineteen years ago. I learned a lot from them,” said Ferreyra.
He added, “This crew displayed their knowledge and expertise using various methods and climbing styles along with specialized equipment to get the job done safely. Back in the day, there weren’t as many skilled, Journeymen Tree Arborists like Kaleb Fillmore and John Church. Most of the tree yards only had a few employees who could remove hazardous trees. Now, IBEW 1245 along with the JATC is producing the most highly skilled and educated Journeymen Line Clearance Tree Trimmers in the industry, setting some of the highest standards the industry has ever seen!”
Asked if this is an unusual assignment, Cervantes said it was a normal job, though he’s seen an uptick in tree removals.
As for the Union, Cervantes said, “It’s great. The Union helps a lot. It has helped us not just getting us more benefits, but I mean, a retirement plan, better insurance. They’ve been there for us. I can’t lie.”