By FireRescue1 Staff
YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Firefighters say they are concerned about the growing use of solar panels, as they pose a danger to crews.
FOX43 reported that the solar panels create an electric hazard for firefighters, according to York City Deputy Fire Chief Chad Deardoff.
Deardoff said once firefighters arrive at the scene of a solar-involved fire, they check to see if they are able to shut the panels down to prevent a “severe risk of electrical shock.”
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Bradley Dunham said firefighters need to know how to isolate panels to avoid danger, and also prevent the panels from soaking in additional energy.
“Fire trucks at a scene, and even the white light to illuminate what firefighters are doing, is enough to reactivate the solar panels for them to produce electricity,” he said.
Paradise Energy Solutions CEO Dale Good said firefighters are in even more danger if enough space is not left around a solar array, and encouraged other companies and homeowners to avoid placing panels on both sides of the roof.
“Some people may put more panels on a roof than what we do,” Good said. “The codes are out there for good purposes to protect the firefighters.”
Deardoff assured the public that the safety of residents will always be the top concern.
“We’re here to protect whatever is thrown our way and that’s what we train for,” he said.