Fire under free-standing solar array at Parallel Products, New Bedford
Apr 2024Published 26 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
On Tuesday afternoon, at 1:20pm, the New Bedford Fire Department responded to 100 Duchaine Boulevard, Parallel Products, for a fire involving a large free-standing solar array with nearby exposures. Crews reported fire burning beneath several solar panels and activated the available service disconnect and power shutoff devices. Two hose lines cooled the steel supporting structure and extinguished the fire below the panels. A thermal imaging drone was flown above and below the array to check for further fire spread, so firefighters did not need to work close to the panels until representatives from the solar company arrived to give technical assistance.
No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The Fire Investigation Unit, with assistance from a city wire and electrical inspector, determined the fire to be accidental. Police and emergency medical services also assisted on scene.
Contributing factors
The source does not state the cause of the fire beyond describing it as accidental. Fire burned beneath the panels on a steel supporting structure.
Lessons learned
- Operators should ensure that array service disconnects and power shutoff devices are clearly labelled and accessible so that responders can isolate the array quickly.
- Thermal imaging drones can check for fire spread beneath and above solar arrays without exposing firefighters to energised panels.
- Solar installers or owners should be contacted early to provide technical assistance, and sites should hold current contact details for this purpose.
- Investigations of solar array fires should involve electrical inspectors to examine wiring and equipment.
More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, detection and monitoring, investigation and fleet-wide checks, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-10-26. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
