Hoosier Solar sponsored three training sessions for Starke County fire departments at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox Sunday, January 12 and Monday, January 13. The sessions focused on fire safety for photovoltaic (PV) equipment (solar panels) and were led by Deputy Fire Marshal Tony Granato of Energy Response Solutions, LLC.
Granato commented on the training hosted by Hoosier Solar.
“They [Hoosier Solar] wanted to bring in some training to the local fire service representatives from the county and their mutual aid partners so the fire departments are more comfortable with a solar installation,” said Granato. “If there’s any incidents down the road with the installation after it’s up and running, the fire department will have the comfort level of responding and handling any of the incidents that arose within the field location.”
He said he has responded to five instances where solar was involved.
Granato explained what it takes to put out a fire at a solar field based on a study by the Fire Safety Research Institute, and he touches on contamination.
“You can stay within certain distances and as long as you’re within certain distances using different hose lines you can stay below the perception level of any electricity feeding back to the firefighter. Electricity and water has always been the theory of it doesn’t mix, but when you’re dealing with a PV fire, water is your best friend and it’s just water and distance. Stay a particular distance away, stay within those guidelines, and you’ll be within a safe zone.
“When they’re burning, it’s no different than anything else that’s burning. The materials being consumed by the fire and whatever run-off is left is very, very minimal. The testing they’ve done on some of this run-off – again, the results have been extremely low.”
He added that the firefighters thought that the training was beneficial and they are more confident with their response with the knowledge from this training.
This was Granato’s third trip to Indiana for similar presentations to organizations and for consulting services for solar developers and solar companies for zoning and permitting processes.
