COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Cleanup efforts continue across Coeur d’Alene following this week’s windstorm, with Forest Cemetery among the hardest hit areas in the city.
City crews worked Friday using chainsaws to cut up fallen trees throughout the cemetery while workers replaced damaged fencing. The storm brought down dozens of trees across the cemetery grounds.
“Government Way, we have a cemetery that was hit pretty hard from this, but really more the south end of Coeur d’Alene, some up north, north of Kathleen,” said Todd Feusier, director of the city’s Street and Engineering Department.
The Street and Engineering Department has cleared 90% of trees blocking roadways. Crews continue removing trees that brought down power lines, requiring coordination with utility companies.
City officials prioritized clearing public roadways before moving to parks and cemetery cleanup. “Right now, our number one goal is the public right of way. As soon as we have all of the streets open, we will be in the parks and the cemetery helping parks and rec,” Feusier said.
Officials warned against residents cutting trees with power lines tangled in branches. “We have a real problem with citizens who like to try and cut trees up when there’s a utility in them. We really encourage people to wait and let the appropriate utility come and clear the scene,” Feusier said.
For the third consecutive day, crews cleared debris from Government Way and Lacrosse Avenue near Winton Elementary School. City officials expect to have Coeur d’Alene restored to normal by Christmas Eve.
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