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Saturday, 11 October 2008
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Wildfire Protection Systems
Aesthetics, quality, and maintainability are very important to us.
Our Wildfire Protection Systems installations blend into the surrounding forest and landscape. Many of our components can be buried or hidden from view.
Wildfire Protection Systems will add value to your wildland-urban property and possibly lessen your fire insurance premiums.
Used proactively, Wildfire Protection Systems will keep your trees, landscape and plantings hydrated and healthy. Ham Lake Fire - 2007
Were you affected by the Ham Lake Fire?Property owners affected by the Ham Lake Fire can get information regarding FEMA aid for new Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Systems™ installation, repairs and upgrades. Click Here for Details... |
Contact UsWildfire Sprinkler, Inc.59 Voyageurs Point Road Grand Marais, MN 55604 218-388-9969 877-896-2635 Contact Wildfire Sprinkler Wildfire Sprinkler Saved Over 125 Structures! In May, 2007, a wildfire swept through a pristine area in northern Minnesota, burning 36,000 acres and destroying many homes, cabins and other structures in its path. Known as the Ham Lake Fire, this is Minnesota’s most devastating wildfire since the Moose Lake-Cloquet Fires of 1918. Our Wildfire Sprinkler Protection System™ (WSPS™) successfully protected over 125 structures from destruction.
For pictures and more information about the Ham Lake Fire, click here...
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Valley Center, California – Wednesday, October 24, 2007 – On Sunday evening, October 21st George Carlson of Wildfire Sprinkler, Inc., Grand Marais, MN received a frantic call from Dusty and Sheila Foster of Valley Center, California that they couldn’t get their Wildfire Sprinkler pump started and that the Witch Creek Wildfire in San Diego County was threatening their home. Installed by Wildfire Sprinkler in 2006, Foster’s Wildfire Sprinkler Protection System would use the water from their swimming pool along with a fire protection additive to be distributed by irrigation sprinkler heads around their property.
Unable to solve the problem over the phone with Dusty, Carlson decided to bring and install a new pump at the Foster’s. Luckily Carlson was able to book a flight for Tuesday from Minneapolis to San Diego for him and Richard Bohnen, his Lead Technician. They carried with them the new pump along with other fire fighting equipment and supplies. In the meantime, Dusty and his wife Sheila were asked to evacuate by San Diego Fire Officials. Arriving just after sunset in smoke filled San Diego, Carlson and Bohnen were able to contact Dusty on his cellphone to get directions to their property using back roads that were not yet closed off by fire or road blocks.
By 9 PM Pacific Standard Time on Tuesday, Oct. 23rd, Carlson and Bohnen had the new pump installed and tested using flashlights, as there was no electric power. Because next day was going to be a Red Flag Day due to the continuing Santa Ana Winds, they decided it was best to wait until daylight to activate the System, which was designed to run unattended for approximately 12 hours with the water and fuel that was available—as daylight experiences the most critical fire behavior. As heavy smoke and ash obscured the sunrise, Carlson and Bohnen activated the Wildfire protection system. After waiting a few hours to assure everything was working properly, Carlson and Bohnen evacuated the area.
It wasn’t until early Thursday morning after Carlson and Bohnen returned to Grand Marais that they found out that the Foster’s home survived, but with little water left in his swimming pool.