Solar panels spark roof fire at New Bedford RMV

What happened

On the afternoon of 9 July 2019 the New Bedford Fire Department responded to a roof fire at the Registry of Motor Vehicles in the North End business park. A fire officer told the station that solar panels had sparked the blaze, affecting about five or ten panels among hundreds. Crews had knocked the fire down and were attempting to shut down power to the building and checking for any spread. Some water damage inside the building was reported, but its extent was not known. No injuries were reported. The fire remained under investigation.

Contributing factors

The fire department said solar panels sparked the blaze. No further cause was reported, and the fire was still under investigation.

Lessons learned

1. A rooftop solar array fire can affect only five or ten panels yet still leave the roof unsafe until power is isolated and spread is checked.
2. Crews should treat isolation of a live solar array as incomplete until shutdown is confirmed, not merely attempted.
3. Water used on a roof fire with solar panels can damage the building below, so internal damage must be assessed after the fire is out.

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

Not yet known

• Exact cause of the solar panel failure
• Solar array model and age
• Cost of damage and downtime

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

Source

wbsm.com