Wis. Guard to help clear fallen timber

MADISON, Wis. — 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.