Solar panel fire contained on Asheville chamber roof

What happened

Asheville Fire Department crews put out a solar panel fire on the morning of 15 June 2026 at the building at 36 Montford Avenue in downtown Asheville, which houses the Asheville Chamber of Commerce and the Asheville Visitor Center. The fire department said the fire was contained to a single solar panel at about 10:30 a.m. and was put out within minutes. No damage was reported. The cause was not reported.

Contributing factors

The cause was not reported.

Lessons learned

1. A rooftop solar fire can be limited to one panel when crews reach it quickly, so building managers should keep roof access and isolation points clear.
2. A report of no damage does not establish the cause; the array, wiring and associated equipment should still be inspected after any panel fire.
3. Recording where rooftop solar equipment sits helps the fire service find the affected panel without delay.

Source

wlos.com