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The Memorial to an
Augusta Area Fireman reads:
Welcome to the Donald L Eisberner
Memorial Forest and Canoe Landing which lies on the corner of
Chaney Road and Canoe Landing Road in the hear of Eau Claire County
Forest. The Eau Clair County Forest is Valued not only for the
forest resources and also the use of outdoor enthusiasts from the
surrounding communities.
The site is dedicated to Don
Eisberner who lost his life here on April 24, 1982 as a firefighter
for the Department of Natural Resources. This site serves both as a
memorial to Don Eisberner and a powerful forest fire prevention
message to the community and forest visitors.
Don Eisberner, 48, was a 30-year
veteran of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He Attended
grade school at Humbird, Wisconsin, and graduated in 1951 from
Fairchild High School. He was hired on March 17, 1952 as a lookout
tower man and forest fire fighter and equipment operator, Don worked
on cooperative efforts to improve forestry and wildlife programs.
During his career as a forest fire
control assistant with the Fairchild Ranger Station, he proved
exceptional service to the citizens of Wisconsin, protecting them
and their land from fire and teaching youth about fire prevention as
"Smokey Bear." Don was involved with the local union chapter and was
an active member of the community. He was a dedicated husband and
father of seven children.
The forest and canoe landing site
is dedicated to Don Eisberner who lost his life in 1982, while
fighting a 274-acre forest fire that started from an unattended
campfire. He was one of the first fire fighters to arrive at the
scene of the fire. The fire spread to dry grass and into a young
pine plantation. With a sudden wind shift, the fire turned and
trapped Don and his tractor plow unit. The weekend fire conditions
had been rated as extremely hazardous. Ironically, in 1994 a second
fire escaped an unattended campfire at the canoe landing burning an
even larger area. |
