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Solar PVUnited StatesEIR-1495

Solar panel fire forces Amazon warehouse evacuation in West Jefferson

Apr 2026Published 28 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordFailed part hidden
Where
Amazon Fulfillment Center, 1550 W. Main St., West Jefferson, Ohio
What
Fire in roof solar panels forced evacuation
Injuries
None reported
Response
Firefighters from several departments led by Jefferson Township Fire Department
Cause
Under investigation

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

What happened

A fire broke out in solar panels on the roof of the Amazon Fulfillment Center at 1550 W. Main St. in West Jefferson, west of Columbus, on 8 April 2026. Firefighters from several departments, led by the Jefferson Township Fire Department, responded at about 12:10 p.m. The fire chief said investigators believe 75 to 100 solar panels caught fire, and that the investigation was still at an early stage. He described limited burning through the roof membrane and insulation, with some material falling onto about two racks of product, and said water damage was likely greater than fire or smoke damage.

The facility was evacuated, and Amazon said employees were sent home for the rest of the day. No injuries were reported, and no damage estimate was available.

Contributing factors

Investigators believe the fire involved the rooftop solar panels. The precise ignition source was not reported, and the investigation was described as still at an early stage.

Lessons learned

  1. A rooftop solar fire can burn through a roof membrane and insulation and drop debris onto stock below even when the main fire stays on the roof.
  2. Water used on a roof fire can cause more internal damage than the fire itself, so affected areas should be isolated early.
  3. Evacuation can keep people clear while the cause and the extent of damage are still being established.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the panel fire
  • Solar panel model and age
  • Cost of the damage
  • Duration of site downtime

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

Source

dispatch.com

Other entries that name Amazon

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).

Solar PV incidents in the United States: 154 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Solar farm fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: rooftop solar fires.

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