TORNADO kills three as it hits northwestern Wisconsin

SIREN, Wis. (AP) _ A tornado whipped through this northwestern community, killing three area people and damaging dozens of homes and businesses. <br><br>At least eight people were seriously injured in

Tuesday, June 19th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SIREN, Wis. (AP) _ A tornado whipped through this northwestern community, killing three area people and damaging dozens of homes and businesses.

At least eight people were seriously injured in the storm, according to the Burnett County Sheriff's Department. Officials declined to release the victims' identities until they had notified their families.

``Basically everything is leveled,'' said Marsha Lawson, who lives in nearby Hertel and went with her husband to Siren to see if they could help after the storm. ``There are cars either smashed into buildings or upside down.''

Siren, about 65 miles northeast of St. Paul, Minn., has a village siren, but it was broken and many people may not have had much warning, said Fire Chief Tom Howe, who estimated that at least 100 buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged.

The siren system was struck by lightning in late April or May, and it was scheduled to be fixed next week, he said.

Greg Hunter, owner of the Pour House restaurant, estimated that 15 Main Street businesses sustained serious damage and that only three or four survived intact.