Wisconsin Guard to Help Clear Fallen Timber

The Wisconsin Army National Guard says dozens of soldiers will help clear downed trees in far northwestern Wisconsin.

Powerful storms in July left about 2 million cords of wood on the ground across six counties, equivalent to what loggers would harvest in a year. Local governments pushed most of the trees off roads but the rights of way are still clogged with debris, creating a fire hazard and blocking snow removal.

The Wisconsin National Guard got permission from the U.S. Department of Defense last week to use soldiers to help clear the trees as a training mission covered by federal funds. The Guard’s Wisconsin commander. Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, says about 64 soldiers from the 724th Engineer Battalion will start on-site work in Burnett and Douglas counties on Sept. 9.