FROM FIRE DAMAGE TO READY FOR THE FUTURE
We have been a specialist in damage repair for years and we relieve growers as much as possible if they have unexpectedly suffered damage due to, for example, a storm or fire. This time a big fire had raged at De Jong Flowers from De Kwakel. Here, in collaboration with the grower and the insurance company, we cleaned up the damage and once again realized a modern business space.
This year, we received a phone call from a Dutch grower, De Jong Flowers from De Kwakel. That night, a fire had raged on his premises and the damage to the business space was enormous. De Jong had already called in the insurer and together, they decided to approach Olsthoorn Greenhouse Projects to limit consequential damage and to repair the damage.
We visited the grower that same day. The damage was recorded and the first step was to look at where consequential damage could be minimised. In this case, one section of the greenhouse was still intact. We immediately closed this part of the greenhouse to prevent further crop damage and to enable the business to continue its activities in this section. The canteen and office were also destroyed by the fire, so a Portacabin was set up as a temporary canteen and office.
Then the clean-up team arrived on site with large equipment. All debris was removed and cleared away so that after a few days, a clean patch of ground remained.
This enabled us and De Jong to see what he would like to have constructed on the cleared site. Of course, we can replace the same greenhouse, but this is also a good time to see if improvements can be made immediately. De Jong has a young son who is interested in taking over the company later. Obviously, this was a great motivation to rebuild the company and to look to the future.
We have drawn up a plan of action together with De Jong and his son. In this case, a new business space has taken the place of some of the greenhouse, so that work can be done more efficiently. We also immediately renovated another part of the premises. In January 2021, all construction work will be completed and the grower can be fully operational again at his own location.
Obviously, this has been a very unpleasant period for this entrepreneur. A fire has a huge impact on your business and the consequences result in a lot of organising, uncertainty and stress. Fortunately, we were able to completely unburden the grower with clearing up the damage. Our shared vision of the possibilities of what can be put back has ultimately ensured that the grower has a great business again and is ready for the future!
