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3,500-year-old tree burned down by drug user, cops say

\"The Senator\", a 3,500-year-old Cypress tree, lies burnt and broken at Big Tree Park in Longwood, Florida January 16, 2012. The tree, considered to be one of the oldest Cypress trees, caught fire early in the morning and continued to burn from the inside out through the day. Investigators with the Florida Division of Forestry ruled out arson as the cause of the blaze that started inside the hollow base of the tree. They said the fire burned hottest at the top, leading them to suspect a lightning strike as a possible cause. REUTERS/Octavian Cantilli (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER)
\"The Senator\", a 3,500-year-old Cypress tree, lies burnt and broken at Big Tree Park in Longwood, Florida January 16, 2012. The tree, considered to be one of the oldest Cypress trees, caught fire early in the morning and continued to burn from the inside out through the day. Investigators with the Florida Division of Forestry ruled out arson as the cause of the blaze that started inside the hollow base of the tree. They said the fire burned hottest at the top, leading them to suspect a lightning strike as a possible cause. REUTERS/Octavian Cantilli (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT DISASTER)Octavian Cantilli / Reuters
By U.S. News

\"The Senator\" before it burned down.
\"The Senator\" before it burned down.Seminole County

A woman arrested on drug charges has admitted setting fire to a 3,500-year-old tree that's a Florida icon, officials say.

Sara Barnes, 26, reportedly said she had gone to Big Tree Park in Longwood to use drugs on Jan. 16 and that a fire she had lit got out of control.

The fire spread through the hollow base of the pond cypress, known as "The Senator." Fire crews ran nearly a mile of hose to get to the 125-foot-tall tree, but were too late.

Images of the fire were found on Barnes' cell phone and laptop, NBC affiliate WESH-TV quoted officials as saying.

Barnes faces a charge of malicious land burning in addition to drug charges.

Methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia were found at Barnes' home.

"The Senator" was thought to be the oldest pond cypress in the world.

Barnes was released on bail Wednesday, The Orlando Sentinel reported.

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