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Duluth, MN 55802
1-800-232-0707
Arrowhead Wildfire Mitigation Project

MAY 1ST, 2009 - ARDC RELEASES REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS: Click HERE to download a PDF of the ARDC - Request for Qualifications for the Arrowhead Wildfire Mitigation “Sprinkler” program.


Listing of ARDC Approved Sprinkler Installers
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

George Carlson, President
Wildfire Sprinkler, Inc.
Grand Marais, MN
(218)-388-9969
(877)-896-2635
Email: gcarlson@wildfiresprinkler.com
Web: www.wildfiresprinkler.com

Tom Anderson, President
A&A Plumbing and Heating
Grand Rapids, MN
(218) 327-4962, ext. 14
Email: sales@aandaplumbingandheating.com
Web: www.aandaplumbingandheating.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


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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If you are a homeowner that needs to have a home-risk assessment done, it is recommended that you first contact you local fire deparment or U.S. Forest Service Dist. Office to inquire for more information on having a Firewise assessment.

Homeowners may also indicate their interest in having an assessment done by filling out the following form (CLICK HERE). By filling out this form, MN DNR Firewise will be able to review the need for assessments and work with local fire departments on assessment training.

Please note that this form is not intended to arrange individual assessments.


For more information on Firewise in St. Louis, Lake, and Cook Counties:

St. Louis County / northern Lake County:
Pegg O'Laughlin Julson
FireWise Communities Specialist
email: pegg.julson@dnr.state.mn.us
phone: (218) 276-2245
cell: (218)244-9662

southern Lake County/Cook County:
William "BJ" Glesener
Firewise Communities Specialist
email: bill.glesener@dnr.state.mn.us
phone: (218) 308-2364

MN DNR's Firewise website: www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewise


About External Sprinkler Systems
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
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:
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.

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