_Longwood - It's a sad day in Seminole County. The Division of Forestry and Seminole County Fire Investigators concluded the torching of Florida's most beloved tree, The Senator, was not the work of a slimy prick arsonist.

Investigators believe an angry group of clouds ganged up on the defenseless senior citizen and blasted it with lightning bolts over a week ago.

Any other tree would have burst into flames. Not The Senator. He stood tall and smouldered quietly the entire time until finally reaching a breaking point once the air dried out enough and the fire reached the hollow area of the trunk. At that point, the fire burned for several hours from the inside out.

Prior to Walt Disney - and electricity for that matter - The Senator was one of Central Florida's biggest attractions.

"It truly is a horrible moment.  I had to come by and pay my respects" said tree-hugger, Bill Corrente. "My wife said to me, 'You're going to pay respects to a tree?'  I said, 'Yeah.'" After which his wife grew suspicious her husband had an affair with that tree.

We're kidding, just trying to lighten the mood. But many in Seminole County are sad about the loss of the tree and we can't blame them.

The Senator will be missed by many.