Man Charged in Ham Lake Fire Commits Suicide
December 19, 2008 — A Washington, D.C. man who had been charged in connection with starting the massive Ham Lake Fire has committed suicide. The attorney for 64 year old Stephen Posniak said his client died of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Posniak had been accused of leaving a trash fire at his campsite unattended, which led to the May 2007 forest fire, which burned over 75,000 acres in the United States and Canada. Over 100 structures were destroyed. Federal officials said the cost of fighting the blaze was $11 million. Posniak had pleaded not guilty in federal court in Duluth. His trial was scheduled to start January 5 in Minneapolis.