Sprinklers saving houses in Ham Lake fire
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The Ham Lake fire has destroyed about 130 structures, a total which includes more than 60 homes. Many of the buildings that have not burned were saved because they are equipped with exterior sprinkler systems.
Many of those systems were installed by a company called Wildfire Sprinkler, which was started by George Carlson after the Boundary Waters blowdown in 1999.
MPR's Cathy Wurzer talked with Carlson, who estimates that his sprinklers have saved at least 50 properties since the current fire began.
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.