US (OH): Fire destroys most of J&J Greenhouse in Columbia Station

A fire destroyed most of Ohio's J&J's Greenhouse on Saturday evening. According to NewsChannel5's crew, on scene a neighbour heard the fire alarm going off next door, he went to check it out and when he opened the door to the greenhouse it caused the fire to spread rapidly. About 75 percent of the two acre greenhouse is gone.

Seven fire departments responded to the scene to help put the fire out. No injuries have been reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

When the fire broke out at their family business, John Frawley and his parents could only watch as it tore through and destroyed the greenhouse they had owned and operated for more than 40 years. “It’s going to be hard,” Frawley said about continuing to run the business, which is his and his parents’ sole source of income.

“I’m numb,” Frawley said, explaining that he owned the greenhouse with his parents Jay and Jean, and together they have grown bulb crops like tulips and daffodils since 1969 — his entire life.

Frawley said he and his family were sitting down for dinner on Saturday when an alarm went off in the greenhouse adjacent to his parents’ home. After checking outside, Frawley said he saw part of the greenhouse was already in flames.

“We were pulling things out at first … but it was way bigger than we thought,” Frawley said, explaining that he and his parents tried initially to salvage the plants that they’ve been working on for weeks and planned to sell in the spring. However, the fire has made it difficult for Frawley to imagine selling anything in the near future.

Sources: chronicle.northcoastnow.com, NewsChannel5 and newsnet5.com