Lake Country Power line crews working in the Big Sandy Lake area near McGregor are reporting dangerous incidents where members of the public are using chainsaws to remove trees from downed power lines following Friday morning’s storm (August 8, 2025).

This is extremely dangerous and must stop immediately.

Helping in this way puts both the public and our line crews at serious risk—and it slows down restoration efforts, rather than speeding them up.

Please leave all tree removal and power restoration work to trained Lake Country Power personnel. Always assume downed power lines are energized.

If you see anyone who is not a lineworker attempting to clear trees near power lines, tell them to stop and leave the area, and report the activity to Lake Country Power at 800-421-9959.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe.