A group member recently sent a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) email to the Facebook group Buckingham, VA Residents Against Industrial Solar.

This email contained images showing a fire that started last month. What's alarming is that the firefighters reiterated the dangers of photovoltaic solar panels. Although this farm is small, the ones that are proposed/approved in adjacent counties are much larger. To see both images join our group here.

Full FOIA email: 

"Chief's

In light of the recent fires at the Palmer Solar Farm, several issues have arose and I feel should be addressed and re-enforced to all our firefighters. Could you please disseminate the below information (email) to all your personnel.

Thanks 

Richie

To All County Fire Personnel;
With the recent fires at the Palmer Solar Farm, located off of Little Creek Road, there are several facts I would like to remind our personnel of and a new discovery which was found today.

As you are aware Company’s 1, 5 and Virginia Forestry were dispatched to the aforesaid location on Thursday, March 7th and again today, March 11th. Each time there was a brush fire which was extinguished by firefighting personnel.

The origin of the fire on Thursday was an electrical short in the underground wire conduit supplying several rows of solar photovoltaic panels, which involved the grass and wiring feeding the panels. This loss involved three (3) rows of photovoltaic panels and approximately 2 acres of brush. The probable cause of this loss was either mice, squirrels, or other vermin gnawing and eating the wire insulation in the underground plastic conduit thus creating a short circuit  or an electrical malfunction of the wiring in the underground conduit, with ensuing fire.

The origin of today’s (03/11/2024) brush fire was caused by the energized wires, under the solar panel of Thursday’s fire, “touching, shorting and arching” thereby setting the grass below on fire and spreading.

After extinguishing today’s fire and returning to service, personnel found another solar panel approximately 100 yards from the above mentioned fires, demonstrating evidence of another fire which occurred sometime in the past. This fire exhibited burn damage to the top (front) of the solar panel and while investigating further, found proof of  burn damage to the underside of the involved panel and associated wiring.

The reason why I am sending this email is to emphasize firefighter safety and remind all personnel operating in and around solar farms that are powered by Photovoltaic Panels. These panels and wiring CAN NOT be turned off by merely throwing a “switch” or any other method. These systems are energized at all times and can be energized in hours of darkness, as well, by ambient lighting in the area.

Additionally, be aware these PV panels will automatically move and rotate on their galvanized pipes in the direction of the sun during daylight hours.

Below is an excerpt from Lake Monticello Fire Department Training Bulletin, 2022-07 – Photovoltaic Panel Systems:

When the sun is shining, DC voltage is being generated in the Photovoltaic panels. Additionally, photovoltaic (PV) panels will continue to generate power even in hours of darkness. Scene lighting from fire apparatus and other ambient lighting WILL continue to create D/C power to PV systems. It is recommended to cover panels with Visqueen plastic sheeting which will block ultraviolet rays.

REMEMBER: ALL COMPONENTS AND WIRES ARE LIVE WITH APPROXIMATELY 405 VOLTS. Touching or moving electrical wires and their components can cause ELECTROCUTION and can not be turned off. This system does not have “rapid shut down system” installed. 

I have attached several photographs.

For further information regarding Photovoltaic Panels and Solar Farms, reference Lake Monticello Fire Department Training Bulletins, 2022-07, 2023-03 and 2023-06

 Stay Safe,

 Chief Rich Constantino