NFPA Journal - Spring 2022 - 80

Firewatch
and caused an estimated $2 million in
damage before it was extinguished by
firefighters.
Sixty-five firefighters were said to
have reported to the scene to fight the
fire. News reports indicated that the
fire was knocked down by 12:15 a.m.
Firefighters were credited with preventing
the fire from spreading to the
nearby residence and fuel tanks.
Investigators learned from the
property owners that they had investigated
noises in the barn earlier in
the evening, but reported no evidence
of smoke or fire. They later heard a
bang and observed that the large barn
was involved with fire. According to
news reports, large amounts of hay
stored inside the main barn provided
ample fuel for the fire once it
ignited. The structures also contained
farm equipment and shop materials
but did not house any animals. The
cause of the fire remained under
investigation.
The main barn was constructed with
wood and metal sheet walls, a wood
roof frame, and metal roof deck and
cover. It occupied a ground floor area
of 25,000 square feet (2,323 square
meters).
The building and contents, each
valued at $750,000, were a total loss.
MARYLAND
Warehouse fire caused by failure in
solar panel system
A mid-afternoon fire at a large warehouse
and distribution facility broke
out in the facility's rooftop solar array
system, according to fire department
reports.
The fire department responded to
the scene at 2:29 p.m. following a call
to 911 by a facility employee. According
to news reports, crews used a
flying standpipe from a tower apparatus
to extinguish fire in multiple solar
panels on the roof. Approximately
60 firefighters were said to have
responded to the two-alarm fire and
brought the fire under control in 80
minutes.
Reports indicated that there was a
delay in notifying the fire department
while employees investigated a potential
fire.
The facility was equipped with an
automatic detection and sprinkler
systems, but the fire was exterior to
sprinkler coverage and did not activate
the alarm system.
Investigators determined that the
fire began on the facility's roof due to
an unspecified event involving a solar
panel array.
The building was a single-story
structure constructed with concrete
walls and floor framing, and a metal
roof frame with a membrane roof
cover. It occupied a ground floor
area of 1.2 million square feet (111,484
square meters).
The fire caused an estimated
$500,000 in damage.
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80 | NFPA JOURNAL * SPRING 2022
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NFPA Journal - Spring 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Spring 2022
