By Martin Luttrell

Although solar panel fires are uncommon, Mendon firefighters have been trained on their risks and how to respond to them. That training paid off Friday when the department was called to a working fire at 28 Hastings St.

The Mendon Fire Department was dispatched at 2:39 p.m. to the Hastings Street business on Friday after a passerby reported “flames from the top of the building,” Fire Chief Jason Bangma said. All off-duty members were called to the scene.

The passerby also assisted in notifying occupants and evacuating the building. There were no injuries to fire personnel or civilians.

Solar panel fires occur in 1 in 10,000 systems annually, Bangma said, citing U.S. Department of Energy data.

“Solar panels do pose a risk to firefighters, with that we have had an internationally known expert, retired fire captain Richard Birt (Las Vegas Fire & Rescue) in town training our members on the risks and how to mitigate them,” Bangma said in an email.  

Birt founded the educational platform, Solar and Fire Education, (S.A.F.E.), which provides free training for firefighters on how to safely mitigate a fire incident involving solar and battery storage systems.

Upon arrival, Engine 44 observed smoke and fire coming from the roof of a large commercial building. A working fire was declared, and mutual aid was requested, bringing engines from Blackstone, Hopedale, Douglas (water supply), and Uxbridge; tankers from Hopedale, Millville, and Uxbridge; and a ladder company from Northbridge, Bangma said.

Car 1 arrived and assumed incident command. Engine 44’s crew began evacuating the occupied structure and locating the fire, which was confirmed to be on the roof. There was some congestion of vehicles in the parking lot, and some that were being removed from the building, but nothing caused any measurable access problem, according to the chief.

After evacuation and mitigation of life hazards, Engine 44 deployed ground ladders to access the roof and found multiple solar panels actively burning, the chief said.

Crews located and shut down the solar disconnect. Upon the arrival of Ladder 44, the aerial was deployed, and the hose line stretched to extinguish the fire. Fortunately, the damage was limited to the solar panels, with no extension into the building, Bangma said.

No code violations related to the fire were noted, Bangma said, adding that the fire was investigated by a Mass. Department of Fire services investigator. The solar company will be doing a full investigation as well. 

The cause of the fire remains undetermined, pending the results of further investigation.

Photos: Martin Luttrell