School Fire: Solar Panel Goes Up In Flames In Westchester

A burnt-out solar panel caused flames to erupt on the roof of a school in Northern Westchester, requiring a quick response from numerous fire departments.

Firefighters respond to a blaze on the roof of the Pocantico Hills School, which was sparked by a burnt-out solar panel.
Photo Credit: *Pocantico Hills Fire Department*

Ben Crnic

07/24/2023 11:15 a.m.

The blaze happened on Friday, July 21 around 1:40 p.m., when the Pocantico Hills and Archville Fire Departments were sent to the Pocantico Hills Central School for a fire on the roof.

According to the Pocantico Hills Fire Department, arriving crews confirmed that flames were coming from the roof of the building and quickly required a tower ladder and additional help from the Pleasantville and Sleepy Hollow Fire Departments.

Firefighters eventually were able to climb onto the roof and discovered a burnt-out solar panel had sparked the blaze. Luckily, after the fire went out by itself, crews shut down the other solar panels and checked for any extension of the blaze, which was not found.

The department reported that the fire was an "isolated electrical component fire and nothing more."

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