Fire burns about 90 hectares at Puertollano solar plant

What happened

A fire broke out around 13:00 on 22 July 2026 at a photovoltaic plant in the municipality of Puertollano, central Spain, and affected around 90 hectares. The mayor said it originated in one of the large photovoltaic installations next to the N-420 highway. The company operating the plant issued the first warning. Three workers on site attempted to contain the fire. One worker suffered burns, was treated initially by a mobile intensive care unit, and was airlifted to hospital.

The cause has not been reported. Authorities are to determine whether it started in electrical equipment, plant components, or from external factors. The regional minister said the fire was contained and under control by Thursday morning, and that a main aim was to keep flames from nearby industrial facilities and to protect the surrounding area. The flames did not significantly reach the forest of Dehesa Boyal park. Eight aircraft, up to 24 ground vehicles and up to 129 people took part. Ground teams remained on Thursday to cool the area and reduce the risk of flare-ups.

Lessons learned

1. Prompt notification by the operating company can support a large firefighting response.
2. Staff who try to contain a plant fire may be burned, so procedures should set when to withdraw and call the emergency services.
3. Cooling after containment can reduce the risk of flare-ups near industrial sites and natural areas.

Source

pv magazine (pv-magazine.com)