Raging fire in Goes Handling Centre in De Meern

A raging fire has partially destroyed the Goes Handling Centre in De Meern, Utrecht. The fire started late last night and is now under control. Or so it seemed last night, but during the night the fire started up again. The cause of the fire is still unknown. It probably started around 20.30 hrs in one of the large warehouses, which had cold rooms for stored fruit.

The fire was visible for miles around and firefighters from many surrounding villages came to help. The ‘explosions’ some heard last night, appeared to be exploding tins of pineapple. People in the surrounding area had to close their doors and windows because of the thick plumes of smoke. The damage is estimated to be millions of Euro.

“We have three warehouses and one of them has completely been destroyed,” says Ad Goes. “We have not determined the damage any further. The Fire department have tried to get closer to the hotbeds by using brute force. The fire is still going and the building has not been cleared by the Fire department. As long as we can’t reach it, we don’t know anything.”

Exactly two years ago, the family Goes came to an agreement with Kivits-Drunen for the exploitation of the Handling Centre with 11,000 pallets and 20 loading docks, after the transport branch of the 100 years old company went bankrupt. “It is a lot to take in. After everything that has happened we thought that everything was going alright and then this happens. This is a major setback” said Ad Goes to freshplaza.com this morning.