No Criminal Element To Eastern Connecticut Warehouse Fire: State Cops

FRANKLIN, CT — A fire at a major distributor of perennial plants located in eastern Connecticut has no criminal element to it, according to a preliminary assessment from state police, released Tuesday.

The fire broke out Monday at the Plant Group, billed as the largest supplier of perennials in New England. The business has been around since 1938 and provides about 1,500 varieties at the wholesale level to distributors throughout New England, New York State and New Jersey.

The Plant Group is located at 117 Pond Road in Franklin.

The fire and resulting smoke involved about 10 tons of Fertilizer, peet, pesticides, ammonia, PFAS, and other toxins, state police said. A shelter in place order issued for the surrounding area has been lifted, after the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protections's Response Unit conducted air and water sampling, according to a preliminary report.

State police Tuesday said that its Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit is assisting the local fire marshal with the fire investigation.

Early Monday morning, the Franklin Fire Department was dispatched to a tree and wires on fire on Pond Road. Firefighters then observed an "orange glow" and pinpointed it to the Plant Group property, according to a preliminary report. The fire involved electrical components servicing the company's warehouse, authorities said.

The fire prompted lengthy road closures, which have also been cleared, state police said.

The exact origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Fire and Explosives Investigation Unit and the Franklin Fire Marshal's Office.

"However there is no suspected criminal aspect at this time," state police said.