Brush fire burns grass beneath panels at Wisconsin solar farm

A grass fire broke out beneath panels at the North Rock Solar Farm in the town of Fulton, Wisconsin, reportedly on a Monday afternoon in late March 2026 (exact date not confirmed by the source). Strong winds drove the blaze across about 10 acres of grass under the arrays. Lakeside Fire-Rescue was called out shortly after 12:30pm and used brush fire tank trucks, water on the ground between arrays, and hand tools to contain the fire. Multiple local fire departments assisted to bring the blaze under control quickly. Fire officials said suppression efforts kept flames low to the ground and away from panels and wiring mounted three to seven feet above ground. No damage to solar equipment was reported at the time of the article. The cause of the fire remained under investigation at the time of reporting.

Strong winds appear to have spread the grass fire quickly across the site; dry vegetation beneath the panel arrays likely provided fuel. The precise cause of ignition has not yet been confirmed.

1. Vegetation management beneath and around solar arrays can reduce the risk of fast-spreading grass fires reaching electrical equipment.
2. Fire services responding to solar sites benefit from protocols for approaching live electrical equipment, since crews avoided directly spraying panels due to constant electrical charge.
3. Mutual aid arrangements with neighbouring fire departments can help ensure rapid containment of vegetation fires at large solar sites before they threaten panels or wiring.

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