Firefighters battle second large greenhouse fire in a week
A week after helping battle a massive greenhouse blaze in St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake firefighters fought another “extensive fire” at a greenhouse in their own community.
The town’s interim fire Chief Nick Ruller said about 40 firefighters aboard seven trucks responded to a fire at Niagara Flower Growers greenhouse at 1167 Line 6 Rd. blaze at 12:04 a.m. Friday, that caused about $450,000 damage before being extinguished about an hour later.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
Ruller said the first crews to arrive “encountered an extensive fire” burning within the 75,000 to 100,000 square foot greenhouse, “spread over a large area.”
He said shade covers used to protect some of the flowers from bright sunlight within the greenhouse, had caught fire and the flames were spreading.
Ruller said firefighters entered the burning facility equipped with a 400-foot fire hose to attack the fire from within, while others remained outside to ensure flames didn’t spread beyond the plastic walls of the greenhouse to two nearby buildings.
Fire crews remained on scene throughout the morning, investigating the cause of the blaze. Although he said the fire is not considered suspicious, the cause has yet to be determined.
Ruller said his damage estimate includes the destroyed flowers that were within the greenhouse, as well as damage to the building.
“The damage was spread over a very large area, and there’s a significant loss,” he said.
NOTL firefighters also responded, with other crews from around the region, to the Aug. 16 blaze at Pioneer Flower Farms on Seventh Street, assisting St. Catharines firefighters battling that massive blaze.
Ruller said the St. Catharines fire was still fresh on the minds of firefighters as they responded to the NOTL greenhouse.
“If nothing else, it’s fresh on your mind about ensuring you have good access around the building and securing a water supply,” he said.
“Our experience just last week just kind of makes you more aware of what potential challenges might exist when we encounter something of a similar nature.”