15 of the 40 acre greenhouse complex is destroyed by the fire. (Photo submitted to stcatharinesstandard.ca)
But RosaFlora will not give up and according to a statement they have post on Facebook they are planning to shipping again Monday. "We are deeply touched by the many expressions of kindness from our friends, neighbours, suppliers and customers. We have been inundated with offers of food, equipment, trucks, and other forms of assistance. As we move forward in the rebuilding process, we appreciate your prayers. They have been deeply felt. Production in all our crops will continue as usual except for our snapdragon and lisianthus. We will be shipping again on Monday."
Injuries
Haldimand firefighters responded to Rosa Flora Ltd. on Diltz Rd. in Dunnville at about 1 a.m. The fire has reportedly destroyed the greenhouse, as well its sales and administrative offices and cooler facility. A warehouse on the site is also damaged. Fire Chief Grimwood estimated damages at “$10 million plus.”Seven Haldimand fire department stations were called in to battle the huge blaze along with one station from Wainfleet. Three firefighters got injured.
About 80 firefighters worked into the afternoon to get the fire and hot spots on the property under control. (Photo by Melissa Mangelsen, Tribune Staff)
Ministry of Environment was also on scene monitoring air quality to ensure chemicals used in the greenhouse weren't lingering in unsafe quantities. Houses across the road from the greenhouse, “in the smoke path,” were evacuated while fire crews worked, said Haldimand County OPP spokesman Const. Mark Foster.
The cause
Fire officials have not yet determined where the fire began, he said, though “due to wind direction, there is summations it did start off in the one corner.” “Because it's a plastic facility, fire and plastic don't mix all that well, it spread very quickly.”Ralph DeBoer's calls the blaze "devastated", watch his complete reaction on the fire in the video report below.
Source: stcatharinesstandard.ca