Volusia County fernery owners clean up after fire tears through business

PIERSON, Fla. — There was an explosion and fire Wednesday at the Underhill Fernery on South County Road 3 in Volusia County.

Workers at the local mom-and-pop business, in Pierson, said they heard the explosion just before a fire erupted that severely damaged their operation.

Volusia County firefighters said the structure was fully engulfed when they arrived.

Skywitness 9 was overhead as workers tried to use hoses to put out the fire.

The owner said he was just thankful the fire happened while all the employees were on break.

Only twisted metal and rubble were left where the nursery’s main storage building once stood.

One of the company’s owners said by the time they noticed the blaze, there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

“One of the guys came through and said, ‘The paint room is on fire,’ and so I ran to the truck to get my fire extinguisher and he ran to the building, and by the time we came out, there it was, way past a fire extinguisher,” said Frank Underhill III.

The fire burned the building almost all the way to the ground, but firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to neighboring structures.

The Underhill family, farmers who have been running the business for seven generations, were grateful for the firefighters’ quick work and Mother Nature.

“That was really important. The best thing was the wind was out of the west, blowing away from the building, so it was really good,” said Frank Underhill Jr.

The Underhills were even happier to know no one was inside.

The 60 workers at the fernery were all on lunch break when the fire started.

“I feel very fortunate and very blessed nobody was hurt,” said Frank Underhill Jr.

The owners think a glue gun may have started the blaze, but the cause is still under investigation.

Authorities said the property has propane tanks and an area containing spray paint.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

There were no injuries reported.

WFTV