Fire breaks out in technical room of Hesse solar park

What happened

A fire broke out in a technical room at a solar park in Fraurombach, a district of Schlitz in the Vogelsbergkreis, Hesse, Germany, according to a report citing the Fuldaer Zeitung. The fire affected the building that houses the sub-distribution equipment for the park's many inverters, and smoke was heavy. Firefighters began with a powder extinguisher as an initial attack and then fought the blaze directly. The fire between the solar panels was reported to be brought under control quickly.

Twenty-seven firefighters, police and the rescue service attended. No one was injured, and firefighters rescued animals found on the site. The initial estimate of property damage is about 50,000 euros. The source does not state the cause of the fire.

Contributing factors

Cause not reported. The source notes that an electrician was also at the scene but does not say why.

Lessons learned

1. Fit smoke or heat detection in buildings that house inverter sub-distribution equipment so that a fire is detected early.
2. Give fire crews site-specific plans showing how to isolate AC and DC supplies and where the sub-distribution equipment is located.
3. Include the rescue of livestock or other animals in the emergency plan for any solar park where animals may be present.

More lessons on detection and monitoring, fire suppression and firefighting, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Source

agrarheute.com