LEAD - The western South Dakota city of Lead is training military veterans to help fight fires.

Officials say the city's FireWise program has received a $125,000 federal grant to help pay wages and supplies and hire a supervisor.

The program lasts for up to 11 months. As part of the training, workers will be cutting, stacking and burning slash piles to reduce fire danger within the city.

Mike Stahl, the Lead city administrator, tells the Black Hills Pioneer (http://bit.ly/14HoK45) that the program will help veterans develop skills for further employment, including firefighting and chain saw operations.

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