Arrowhead Wildfire Mitigation Project
| April 8th, 2010 Update: Eligible Homeowners may still participate in the ARDC Sprinkler Program. Please contact Bonnie Hundrieser, Project Manager with questions or to request an application package: Phone: (218) 529-7527 or Email: bhundrieser@ardc.org |
| Listing of ARDC Approved Sprinkler Installers
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| A listing of the sprinkler installers (Vendors) who are qualified to participate in this Program is provided below. Participating homeowners are responsible to research competing Vendors. Vendors are available to answer questions and provide quotes to homeowners who wish to install an external wildfire sprinkler system. For questions, contact Bonnie Hundrieser, ARDC (218) 529-7527 or email: bhundrieser@ardc.org THE FOLLOWING ARE IN A-B-C ORDER BASED ON LAST NAME: Tom Anderson, President A&A Plumbing and Heating Grand Rapids, MN (218) 327-4962, ext. 14 Email: sales@aaplghtg.com Web: www.aaplghtg.com George Carlson, President Wildfire Sprinkler, Inc. Grand Marais, MN (218)-388-9969 (877)-896-2635 Email: gcarlson@wildfiresprinkler.com Web: www.wildfiresprinkler.com Frank Soukup, Jr. President Emerald Lawns, Inc. Park Rapids / Brainerd, MN (218)-732-4288 or 1-800-794-8242 Email: frank@emeraldlawns.com Web: www.emeraldlawns.com Michael Valentini, President Michael Valentini Property Services, LLC Grand Marais, MN (218) 388-0900 Email: michaelv@mvalentini.com |
| Background
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| The goal of the Arrowhead Wildfire Mitigation Project is to retrofit existing residential structures located in the high-risk wildfire areas of Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties with external sprinkler systems, thus reducing vulnerability to wildfire. Properties with sprinkler systems proved to be effective in Cook County during the Ham Lake Fire in May, 2007, which claimed over 100 homes. Over 50 structures were saved by sprinkler systems. Additional sprinkler systems supported by this project will add significant protection to homes throughout the Arrowhead region in the event of major wildfire incidents. Funding for the Arrowhead Wildfire Mitigation Project is made possible by a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant through the State of Minnesota. For a fact sheet on the "Sprinkler Project", click here |
| Firewise
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| Property owners who participate in the ARDC Wildfire Sprinkler Program must have a formal FireWise assessment done of their property, and the resulting assessment must reflect a rating of Low or Moderate. If scores are in the High or Extreme range, the homeowner will not be eligible to participate until sufficient mitigation efforts are implemented to reduce the score to fall within the Low or Moderate range. Homeowners who wish to apply the ARDC Sprinkler Program will receive information on how to request a formal FireWise assessment. A completed assessment is a required part of the application to participate in the program. For more information on the MN DNR's Firewise Program, please visit: www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewise |
| About External Sprinkler Systems
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| Sprinkler systems can help in wildfire damage prevention when used in combination with Firewise practices for the creation of defensible space. Creating a defensible space around structures is always the first line of defense against forest fires. For the Firewise brochure "External Wildfire Sprinkler System: Is it Right for You?" click here. |
| Role of ARDC and Partners
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| The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission is the fiscal manager for the project, working with a Sprinkler Committee consisting of emergency management partners from Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties in the development and implementation of the project. Sprinkler Committee members include: Arrowhead Regional Development Commission: Andy Hubley, Regional Planning Division Director Bonnie Hundrieser, Senior Planner / Project Manager St. Louis County: St. Louis County Sheriff's Office/Division of HS/EM: Scott Camps, Emergency Services Manager Paul M. Lee, Coordinator Lake County: BJ Kohlstedt, Emergency Management Coordinator, Lake County Emergency Management Cook County: Jim Wiinanen, Emergency Management Director, Cook County Emergency Management State of Minnesota: Kristen Sailer, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, MN Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management |
| For More Information Contact:
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| Bonnie Hundrieser, Senior Planner Arrowhead Regional Development Commission 221 West First Street Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: (218) 529-7527 Email: bhundrieser@ardc.org |
| This project was supported by Grant Award Number EMC-2008-PD-0003 awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Points of view of opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent endorsement by FEMA or reflects FEMA views. |
Regional Planning Division Programs
| Current Drafts Available for Comments
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| 2010 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy |
| Regional Planning Staff
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| Please click here to see a list of Division staff members. |
| RTAC In-Kind Transportation Planning Grant
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| The RTAC In-Kind Transportation Planning Grant will give a community up to $10,000 worth of ARDC planning services to do transportation planning....more |
| ARDC Employee Phone List
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| Click HERE for a list of ARDC phone numbers. |

