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Solar PVUnited StatesEIR-1643

Brush fire near solar farm started by grass cutting

Sept 2025Published 30 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorOtherProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
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out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden

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

What happened

A brush fire broke out near the OCI Solar Powr Alamo 2 Solar Farm at the corner of Binz Engleman and Woodlake Parkway in San Antonio. The fire started around noon when two employees of the plant were cutting grass. It burned 12 acres according to the San Antonio Fire Department and 20 acres according to the owner. Bexar County ESDs 9, 11 and 12 responded. No one was injured and no property was damaged. As a precaution the operator powered down the solar farm and notified CPS Energy. The site was to be re-energised once declared safe by fire officials.

Contributing factors

Grass cutting activity by employees at the site.

Lessons learned

  1. Ensure vegetation management work near solar farms includes fire prevention measures such as adequate water or suppression equipment on site.
  2. Maintain clear communication protocols with local fire services and grid operators during any on-site maintenance that could generate ignition sources.
  3. Review and update site-specific risk assessments for routine maintenance tasks in dry or grassy areas.

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

Source

foxsanantonio.com

Published 2026-09-30. 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: 155 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: grass fires and wildfires at solar farms.

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