At 12:25 pm Tuesday, Contra Costa Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a report of a vegetation fire in the 1300 block of Loveridge Road off the Pittsburg-Antioch Highway in the City of Pittsburg
While responding, a column of brown smoke was reported by Engine 85.
Upon arrival, firefighters located a half-acre of vegetation in a solar farm field with fire under solar panels.
According to the fire investigator, it was reported that they were mowing grass in the area at the time the fire broke out.
Since firefighters could not make access to the vegetation, they were working within rows to limit the spread of the fire.
By 1:17 pm, it was reported that the solar panels are energized and high risk which prevented firefighters from going under the panels.
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2 comments
This is a very dangerous place to have a solar farm field. Much to close to residential and business areas. Those solar panels are HOT and energized and it takes is one spark to get it going and it’s virtually impossible for firefighters to fight such a fire! Someone was NOT thinking this thing through!
I’m sure those “scientists” comprising the Pittsburg City Council were consulted!
Solar farms should be as far from population centers as they can be. Look at the ones outside Palm Springs and out in the high desert of Nipton, CA.
A little weed barrier mat covered with some base rock and they wouldn’t have this problem. What dumbass thought it to be prudent to allow grass to grow under solar panels???
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