Fire claims Parkland Greenhouse

A fire ripped through the Parkland Greenhouse in the wee hours of May 6 almost completely claiming the business and damaging an adjacent home.

Part of the building was also living quarters. Two people were home at the time, but managed to escape sustaining only minor injuries.

The Yorkton fire department responded at approximately 1:30 a.m., but it was already too late. High winds whipped the flames and caused the structure to burn hot and fast according to fire chief Trevor Morrissey. The wooden construction and wide open layout also contributed to the rapidity with which the blaze consumed its fuel.

When firefighters arrived on the scene the greenhouse was fully engulfed with flames reaching as high as 30 feet at times.

The business was also well-known for its tea gardens and fine dining, particularly weekend brunches. The restaurant is also gone.

Investigators have yet to determine a cause of the fire, but greenhouses are notorious fire hazards because they generally contain abundant combustible material and sources of ignition.