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Solar PVUnited StatesEIR-1430

Grass fires at Eagle Point solar farm prompt safety measures

2024Published 28 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fire
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
solar farm at 1035 Highway 234, Eagle Point, Oregon
Owner
Soltage
What
two grass fires from failed panels dropping molten electronics
Cause
overheated electronic panels that failed

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Soltage

What happened

Two grass fires occurred at the solar farm at 1035 Highway 234 in Eagle Point, Oregon. Fire District 3 said the first, on 31 July, burned about seven acres, and the second, on 30 September, burned three acres. The district said both were caused by overheated electronic panels that failed and dropped molten material onto dry grass. The site has 33,000 panels. After the first fire, Soltage, which owns the panels, worked with Fire District 3 and added fire breaks.

The panels were not reconnected to the grid and were moved as far from dry grass as possible, but they still produce electricity in sunlight. The district said the fire breaks and cooler weather lessen the chance of another fire, while work on a return to normal operations continues.

Contributing factors

Fire District 3 said overheated electronic panels failed and dropped molten material onto dried grass. Mowing of about 115 acres was not possible after the July fire because of fire danger restrictions.

Lessons learned

  1. Install and maintain fire breaks around and within solar arrays where dry vegetation is present.
  2. Treat modules as still able to produce electricity in sunlight, and keep combustible vegetation away from equipment that can fail hot.
  3. Agree return-to-service conditions with the local fire service after any ignition.

More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Specific root cause of the panel failures
  • Panel model and age
  • Cost of damage and mitigation work
  • Duration of any downtime

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

Source

kdrv.com

Site page: Eagle Point Solar (status, dates and other incidents)

Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Solar PV incidents in the United States, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

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Solar farm fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: grass fires and wildfires at solar farms.

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