Their Claim
"A dangerous fire broke out at a solar farm in Castleton, proving solar installations are fire hazards."
The Reality
It was a brush fire caused by dry conditions on a Red Flag Warning day. Zero solar panels were damaged.
What Actually Happened
On October 27, 2024, a fire occurred at the White River Solar Farm property in Castleton, NY. Here's what the sources actually say:
The Fire Department's Assessment
Castleton Fire Department officially classified this as a "brush fire"—not a solar panel fire, not an electrical fire, not an equipment fire. A brush fire.
The Conditions That Day
- The National Weather Service had issued a Red Flag Warning
- Low humidity and high winds created extreme fire conditions
- Fire burned in a ravine filled with debris, not among the panels
- The same conditions caused brush fires across the region
The Damage to Solar Equipment
"No obvious damage to the more than 17,000 solar panels." — Pure Sky Energy, October 28, 2024 (one day after the fire)
Let that sink in: 17,000+ panels, zero damage. The fire burned vegetation in a ravine on the property. It did not involve the solar installation itself.
Why This Matters
SSRNY uses this incident to imply that solar farms are inherently dangerous fire risks. But:
- Brush fires happen on all types of land—farms, forests, vacant lots
- The fire didn't start from solar equipment
- The fire didn't damage solar equipment
- The fire department didn't classify it as a solar-related incident
By this logic, any property where a brush fire occurs becomes "dangerous." Should we oppose all development because brush can catch fire on dry, windy days?
The Actual Fire Safety Record
Modern solar installations are:
- Electrically grounded with automatic shutoff systems
- Inspected and permitted by local fire departments
- Required to maintain defensible space and vegetation management
- Statistically safer than many industrial and agricultural operations
Solar panels don't spontaneously combust. They convert sunlight to electricity. The "fire risk" narrative conflates a weather-related brush fire with the solar equipment itself.
Compare the Risks
| Fire Risk Factor | Solar Farm | Traditional Farm | Residential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel storage (gas, diesel) | None | Yes | Some |
| Hay/straw storage | None | Yes (highly flammable) | None |
| Heating systems | None | Yes | Yes |
| Cooking equipment | None | Yes | Yes |
| Occupancy (human error) | Minimal | Regular | Constant |
The Bottom Line
A brush fire occurred on a solar farm property during a Red Flag Warning. The fire burned vegetation, not equipment. Zero panels were damaged. The fire department called it what it was: a brush fire.
Using this incident to oppose solar development is like opposing all farming because a barn somewhere once caught fire. It's not a serious argument—it's fear-mongering.
Sources
- WNYT: "Solar farm says 'no obvious damage' following large brush fire" (Oct 28, 2024)
- WNYT: "Crews battle large fire at a solar farm in Castleton" (Oct 27, 2024)
- NEWS10: "Crews extinguish brush fires at Castleton solar farm"
- National Weather Service Red Flag Warning records, October 2024
Related Facts
- Do Solar Farms Cause Fires? - The full fire safety FAQ
- The Real Story on Farmland - Solar is 0.5% of farmland loss
- The Watershed Argument Backfires - Solar protects water quality
- Their Claims, Exposed - Line-by-line fact checks
- All Solar FAQs - Common questions answered