Fire at a solar farm in the Landes spreads into forest

What happened

A fire broke out on 16 September 2026 at a solar farm in the Landes department of France and spread into surrounding forest, having already destroyed more than 100 hectares. The fire service described the situation as very serious because of nearby high-voltage power lines, the A63 motorway and a railway line. One hundred and fifty firefighters and six aircraft, including two Canadair, were deployed in the communes of Lüe and Labouheyre.

Train services on a section of the Bordeaux, Dax line were suspended because of the flames. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries, and a house under threat was secured. High temperatures were reported as a factor that could complicate efforts to tackle the blaze.

Contributing factors

The source reports high temperatures that could complicate firefighting. It does not state a cause of the fire or any equipment failure.

Lessons learned

1. A solar farm fire near high-voltage lines, a motorway and a railway requires early coordination with grid and transport operators to manage access and shutdowns.
2. When a solar site fire can spread into forest, operators must plan for a large multi-agency response that includes aerial resources from the start.

More lessons on spacing, layout and fire spread, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Cause of the fire
• Solar farm model and age
• Cost of the damage and lost generation
• Duration of train service suspension

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

feuxdeforet.fr