Fires at solar plant in Ben Wheeler after hail damage
2023Published 30 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
Crews from Ben Wheeler Fire & Rescue responded on a Saturday to a fire at a solar plant on FM 773 in Ben Wheeler, Texas, KLTV reported. The department said two hail storms earlier in the year had damaged the solar panels and left them prone to igniting grass beneath them. It said about eight such incidents had taken place that year, that the fires had been small and were not considered a threat to nearby properties, and that the plant had not had this fire problem before the storm damage. Injuries and the extent of damage from the fires were not reported.
Contributing factors
The fire department said hail damage to the panels left them prone to igniting grass under the arrays, and that the fires had recurred only after the storms.
Lessons learned
- Inspect solar arrays promptly after hail so damaged equipment that can start grass fires is identified.
- Review vegetation management where panel damage is already known.
- Track repeated small fires so a pattern is noticed before one spreads.
More lessons on weather and external hazards, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, spacing, layout and fire spread, from every incident on the register.
Source
Other entries that name Wheeler
Published 2026-09-30. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
