Police in Maple Grove think a group of teenagers may have started the fire that caused major damage to a long-standing family business over the weekend.
The fire broke out in the main warehouse at Lynde Greenhouse and Nursery early Sunday morning, according to fifth-generation owner Derek Lynde. He said a relative who lives adjacent to the property called him.
"Monday morning, obviously I couldn't sleep. I sat here staring with the headlights at what used to be my warehouse," Lynde told WCCO Radio's Jason DeRusha on Wednesday morning. "Within a 90-second period right away at 7:00 a.m., every single person who works for me pulled in."
Lynde said the response from the rest of the community--including fellow nursery owners--has been overwhelming.
"Some of the comments on social media, with just people offering words of support--and hopeful that we'll re-open and hopeful that we'll come back--quickly erased any doubt that I would do anything differently."
The investigation into the fire is on-going. Maple Grove Police say they have identified five teenagers as persons of interest.
