Grass fire burns near panels at FPL Sparkleberry Solar Farm
EIR-0336Provisional entry. Confirmed: a grass fire broke out around solar panel rows at the FPL Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center in Molino, Florida, on 5 March 2026, with no equipment damage reported. Not yet known: the cause of the fire, which remained under investigation at the time of the only report found. No further update is scheduled; the entry stays provisional until new information is published.
A brush and grass fire broke out midday at the Florida Power & Light Sparkleberry Solar Energy Center on Pilgrim Trail in Molino, Florida. The fire occurred in four to five inch tall grass growing around rows of solar panels. Florida Forest Service personnel allowed the fire to burn towards a nearby road before using a small amount of water to extinguish it. Multiple units of Escambia County Fire Rescue also responded to the scene. An FPL spokesperson confirmed there was no damage to any solar equipment and that the facility continued to operate normally throughout the incident. The cause of the fire remained under investigation at the time of reporting.
Overgrown grass measuring four to five inches around the solar panel rows provided fuel for the fire. The specific ignition source had not been determined at the time of reporting.
- Regular vegetation management and grass cutting around solar panel arrays can reduce fire fuel loads and lower ignition risk.
- Prompt coordinated response between forestry and fire rescue services can contain vegetation fires before they reach and damage equipment.
- Monitoring dry or overgrown ground cover during high fire risk periods should be part of routine site maintenance at solar facilities.
Published 2026-09-07. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.