A fire ripped through one of the greenhouses at Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse, located at 10300 E 9000N Road in Grant Park, late Wednesday morning, triggering a large mutual aid response to the large retail garden center.
Most of the damage was limited to one greenhouse, and the nursery can continue normal retail operations while cleanup takes place.
The fire started about 11:30 a.m. on January 14 in the nursery’s “food court” greenhouse, which also houses the facility’s break room, bathrooms, and a food court complete with a food truck.
No one was working in the food court greenhouse at the time of the fire.
Woldhuis spokesman Trevor Woldhuis explained that employees started smelling smoke wafting throughout the connected greenhouses. Shortly after, they saw the smoke, but by the time they located the fire, it had grown too large to be put out with handheld fire extinguishers, despite their best efforts.
“By the time you could tell it was on fire, it was really on fire,” Woldhuis said, underscoring how quickly it happened.
An employee immediately called 911 and crews arrived shortly thereafter.
“Upon arrival, the first-due engine from Grant Park reported heavy fire/smoke showing from one of the remote barns located near the food court area of the property. Due to the size of the structure, scene manpower, and strong winds at the time of the incident, a box alarm was requested,” Grant Park Deputy Chief James Crocker said in a press release.
Woldhuis explained that although the fire was mostly contained to the food court area, it had traveled through to the attic space in the adjoining “chicken house” next to the food court.
Woldhuis explained that they refer to the building as the “chicken house” because, many years ago, the space housed chickens, though none are housed there today.
Firefighters had to tear down the ceiling in that space to put out the fire.
“So, there is damage there, but it didn’t get into any of our main growing greenhouses, which are totally fine and operational. We’re thankful for that, thankful it was contained to one of the smaller greenhouses,” Woldhuis said.
“You never want to see any of your buildings up in flames, but the growing greenhouses are all ok,” he added.
The fire district’s release reported the fire was “brought under control quickly and efficiently.”
“We are open. The damaged area is blocked off. It still smells a little like smoke as we’re working on cleaning everything up,” Woldhuis said.
The expansive nursery has nearly nine acres of covered greenhouse space, which includes what’s available to retail shoppers and their back growing greenhouses. The nursery sells a massive variety of annuals, perennials, fruits and vegetables, tropical flowers, house plants, trees, shrubs, decor and supplies. The nursery grows a majority of its plant material in-house.
Grant Park Fire District’s press release noted no one was hurt in the fire and reported the following agencies responded to the fire: Aroma Fire Protection District, Beecher Fire Protection District, Bourbonnais Fire Protection District, Bradley Fire Department, Crete Fire Department, Crete Township Fire Protection District, Elite Ambulance Service, Frankfort Fire Protection District, Lake Dale Fire Department, Lake Village Fire Department, Limestone Fire Protection District, Lowell Fire Department, Kankakee Fire Department, Kankakee Township Fire Protection District, Manhattan Fire Protection District, Monee Fire Protection District, Riverside Ambulance Service, St. Anne Fire Protection District, and the University Park Fire Department.
Grant Park Fire District also commended the Grant Park Police Department for assisting with traffic control.
The cause of the blaze is unknown as investigators are working to determine what happened.
“We suspect it might have been electrical, but we don’t know. They’re still figuring that out,” Woldhuis said, noting that the food trucks were not in operation at the time of the fire.
As for what happens next with the food court area, Woldhuis says it will take some time to determine whether to rebuild the greenhouse as it was or do something different. They are looking at different options, both temporary and long-term.
“It was amazing to witness the professionalism and care for us. [The firefighters] did a great job, and we’re thankful for the entire community, all the love and support we’ve been getting from social media and so forth,” Woldhuis said, expressing gratitude to the responding fire departments and customers alike.
“It’s very humbling, and we’re very grateful for their support,” Woldhuis added.
Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse remains open for normal business hours, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are always closed on Sunday. They typically begin expanding hours in March to get ready for the spring season.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.
I am so glad no one was hurt, and the damage was contained to one smaller area. I have been going to this wonderful greenhouse for well over 20 years-and just love it. Good luck Woldhuis farms-hope all is well. A long time customer.