Solar panel fire disrupts first day at Lunenburg school

What happened

A fire broke out on the roof solar panels at Lunenburg Middle/High School in Massachusetts just after 11 a.m. on the first day back after summer break. The school was evacuated and students were dismissed early. Firefighters put the fire out in about 15 to 20 minutes using dry chemical extinguishers, which they said were needed because water cannot be used on solar panel fires. Damage was visible to at least five panels, and there was some minor damage to the roof of the weight room, which was empty at the time.

Police said there were no injuries. A building and electrical inspector was to inspect the structure, and the incident remained under investigation. Classes were expected to resume the next day.

Contributing factors

The cause had not been confirmed. A fire chief said it was probably an electrical malfunction from wear and tear, a short circuit. Panels were reported to keep producing electricity in sunlight even after the feed into the building was shut off.

Lessons learned

1. Solar installations need specific firefighting methods because panels can keep generating electricity in sunlight after the building feed is shut off.
2. Early evacuation and clear assembly points help manage a rooftop incident without injuries.
3. Inspection by qualified electrical and building personnel should be completed before normal use resumes.

Source

wcvb.com