Solar System Fire at a Storage Facility in Glenmont
Photo by Thomas MarraStorage Facility in Glenmont where a fire broke out on a junction box for solar panel system.
Photo by Thomas MarraJunction box for solar panel system that caught fire at a storage facility in Glenmont.
Photo by Thomas MarraTruck 29-70 of Selkirk Fire Dept at a fire call at a storage facility.
Photo by Thomas MarraFirefighters check to see if building is energized following an electrical fire.
Photo by Thomas MarraElsmere Fire Dept Truck 10-70 along with Delmar-Bethlehem EMS and Albany County Paramedic at a fire call in Glenmont.
Photo by Thomas MarraElectrical fire at a storage facility in Glenmont.
Photo by Thomas MarraRooftops lined with solar panels at a storage facility in Glenmont where a minor fire broke out.
Photo by Thomas MarraFirefighters cut locks on interior storage units to check for fire extension.
Fire crews responded to a solar-related fire at a storage facility in Glenmont in August.
Crews were dispatched to 721 River Rd in Glenmont around 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 10 for reports of an electrical box on fire on the side of one of the storage buildings.
“On our arrival it was approximately a 30x150 outdoor storage building with power to it and was lined on the entire roof with solar panels,” said Captain Eric Kerr of the Selkirk Fire Department.
He says crews arrived to active smoke and flames coming from a junction box on the side of the building.
He says the smoke and flames seen were from the plastic burning off the wires and the casing.
“There were approximately ten inside units, five of which we investigated that were adjacent to the ‘B-side’ wall on the interior,” Kerr said. “Then there were approximately 20-25 storage units on either side.”
“Some sort of catastrophic failure of the systems that are there,” is what is being labeled as the cause of the fire.
Firefighters were positioned around the building to ensure there were no civilians nearby to prevent coming in contact with the metal building in the event the building was energized.
National Grid made a quick response to shut off the meters and ensure the building was not energized.
“The fire pretty much burned itself out once everything was deenergized,” Kerr said. “We turned off every breaker that we could and there really was no need for fire suppression seeing how after there was a loss of energy, the fire lost its steam and we had to ensure it cooled off naturally.”
Due to there being five indoor storage units on the opposite side of the wall as the fire, crews needed to gain access to each to check for any fire extension.
Firefighters cut the locks to the doors on the five units to verify there was no fire extension into those storage units.
The contact number for the solar company was attempted to be reached, however once the fire department left the scene the property manager was still attempting to get in contact with the solar company.
Selkirk Fire Department, Elsmere Fire Department, Delmar-Bethlehem EMS and Albany County Paramedics responded to the scene.
There were no injuries reported.
No information from the author.