Man Charged in Ham Lake Fire
October 22, 2008 — 64 year old Stephen Posniak of Washington, D.C. has been charged in Duluth federal court in connection with the massive Ham Lake Fire which occurred in May, 2007. Posniak is accused of leaving a trash fire unattended and it was that fire which destroyed 75,000 acres in the United States and Canada. The fire cost $11 million to bring under control. Over 130 structures were lost in the blaze. Posniak has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for January 5th in Minneapolis.