HEATHER ANSWERED THOSE AS WELL
IN AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THE
STORY.
>> YOU CAN FIND THAT ON
WCCO.COM OR STREAMING NETWORK
CBSN MINNESOTA.
>> ONCE USED BY MINNESOTA DAIRY
FARMERS, BARNS ARE NOW BIG
BUSINESS IN THE WEDDING WORLD.
>> WCCO FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE
BUILDINGS AT THE CENTER OF A
COSTLY CONTROVERSY.
TONIGHT, LIZ COLLIN
INVESTIGATES A HIDDEN FIRE
DANGER, AND THE PROTECTION THAT
HAS SOME OWNERS PUSHING BACK.
ON WHAT IS SAFE ABOUT A VENUE.
McCUIN WAYNE AND HIS WIFE
ENTERED THE WEDDING BARN
BUSINESS,
>> THE COUPLE IS LOOKING FOR
PRETTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS
NOT PRETTY.
>> THEY SAY THEY WEREN'T
PREPARED FOR THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY AND POLITICS AT PLAY FOR
YOUR BIG DAY.
THEIR HISTORIC FARM IN COTTAGE
MINNESOTA BACK THEN.
IN A MORE CROWDED FIELD THAT
HAS TOPPED MORE THAN 200 NOW.
ONE YEAR IN, THEY STARTED TO
SLOW.
COUPLE SAID THEY BOOK ELSEWHERE
DUE TO CHEAPER RENTAL RATES.
THAT LED WAYNE TO SOCIAL MEDIA
TO SEE WHAT WAS DIFFERENT.
>> THE 1st THING THAT STUCK OUT
TO ME WAS THE FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEM WAS MISSING.
>> Reporter: A FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEMS INTO SMOKE OR FLAMES
TRIGGERING SPRINKLERS TO SHOOT
WATER FROM THE CEILING.
>> I'M LOOKING AT THE
REALIZE THEY'RE NOT DOING THE
SAME THING.
>> Reporter: WAYNE SAID THEY
PLAYED PAID THE $350,000 FOR
THE PRICEY PIPING AT THE START.
FOUND VERY FEW FOLLOW THE SAME
SET UP.
JUST 15.
>> WE HAD
>> Reporter: DELON LOST HIS
BARN TO FIRE IN NORTH DAKOTA
THREE YEARS AGO.
A DANCE HALL FOR DECADES, HE
CONSIDERS IT LUCK THAT NO ONE
WAS INSIDE.
>> THE FIRE BURNED INSIDE FOR A
HALF HOUR BEFORE IT COME OUT.
>> Reporter: AT THE TIME HE HAD
NO SPRINKLERS TO KEEP THE FIRE
>> IT'S A LOT LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: BE REBUILT AND
SPENT THE MONEY TO HAVE THEM
INSTALLED.
>> IT'S A NIGHTMARE WAITING TO
HAPPEN.
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
THEY FEEL SAFE.
>> Reporter: THE OWNER OF TWO
DIFFERENT BARNS WITHOUT
SPRINKLERS TOLD WCCO MISSING
SYSTEM ISN'T THAT SIMPLE.
>> SPRINTERS IN GENERAL HAVE
SO TO SAVE STRUCTURES, NOT TO
ALERT PEOPLE OF FIRES.
>> Reporter: FROM STRUCTURAL
LOADING AND FIRE SAFETY, ADAM
WALLACE WALKED US THROUGH THE
PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN BLUE
LAKE BARN IN SCHAEFER.
>> WE HAD TO HAVE AN ENGINEER
DROP PLANS DETAILED PLANS ABOUT
HOW WE WOULD TAKE THIS BARN
BUILT IN THE 30s, TO MAKE IT
INTO A COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
>> Reporter: THOSE CLANS
INCLUDED THE FIRE RETARDANT,
THE RIGHT SIGNAGE FIRE PUSHERS
AND SMOKE ALARMS.
THOSE ALARMS GIVE WARNING TO
GET OUT.
DEGREES WHEN WALLACE SAYS
EVERYONE WOULD ALREADY BE GONE.
>> THESE BARNS ARE OPEN, THERE
IS NO TIME THAT A FIRE WOULD GO
BUILDING HERE AND THE PEOPLE
WOULD BE NOTIFIED BY.
>> Reporter: ADAM WALLACE AND
MICHAEL HELPED TO LAUNCH THE
MINNESOTA RURAL EVENT VENUE
ASSOCIATION.
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE
SPRINKLERS STATEWIDE.
>> THEY ARE CHANGING THE GAME
ON US AT THAT POINT, WE'VE
ALREADY FOLLOWED ALL OF THE
EXACT STEPS.
>> Reporter: IN MANY CASES THE
TOO MUCH.
I HAVE WHY HAVE SOME BARNS BEEN
REQUIRED TO HAVE SOME AND SOME
HAVE NOT?
OWNERS SAY IT COMES DOWN TO
IF YOUR CAPACITY IS LESS THAN
300 GUEST IT'S CONSIDERED AN
ASSEMBLY A3, AS BURGLARS ARE
NOT REQUIRED.
IF IT'S MORE THAN THAT, IT'S IN
A TWO.
>> THEY WERE BASICALLY TRYING
TO ESTABLISH ALL BARN VENUES IN
A TWO.
>> WE'RE WAITING FOR SOMETHING
TO HAPPEN.
>> AS A CERTIFIED BUILDING
OFFICIAL, ROGER ACTUALLY SPENT
SECURING TWIN CITY STRUCTURES.
>> WHAT WE DO IS IMPORTANT, WE
JUST DON'T CARRY GUNS, WE DON'T
DRIVE BIG RED TRUCKS.
>> HE HAS NO STAKE IN THIS
SITUATION, AXEL BELIEVES
BUILDING OFFICIALS CAN'T CLOSE
THEIR EYES TO IT ANY LONGER.
AXEL STERES STUDIES PROVE
SPRINKLERS BY PEOPLE INSIDE
MORE TIME IN A FIRE, AND OTHER
SAFEGUARDS ARE NOT TRADE-OFFS.
HE BELIEVES THE PEOPLE IN
CHARGE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
PROTECT THE PUBLIC WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR LIABILITY.
NOT WORTH THE COST.
>> ONE EVENT HAPPENS, I CAN
GUARANTEE YOU YOUR CHECKBOOK
ISN'T GOING TO BE BIG ENOUGH TO
COVER IT.
>> Reporter: LIZ COLLIN WCCO 4
NEWS.
>> ROGER AXEL POINTED TO THE