A fire involving rooftop solar panels was reported Monday at a single-family home on Conrad Court in Damascus.
Crews from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded to smoke coming from the roof and quickly extinguished the fire with no extension into the home.
Firefighters successfully deployed a recently acquired tool called “PVStop,” a handheld device that applies a liquid tarp to deactivate solar (photovoltaic) panels, improving safety during suppression efforts.
According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire is believed to have started accidentally, possibly due to a bird’s nest under or near the panels igniting from accumulated heat, though the exact cause remains under investigation.
Update – Conrad Ct, Damascus, SFH, solar panel ignited, fire extinguished, no extension, @mcfrs successfully utilized recently acquired ‘PVStop’ a handheld unit to safely apply deactivating liquid (liquid tarp) onto damaged photovoltaic (PV) arrays (solar panels) https://t.co/1EI48eJGsq pic.twitter.com/VWJxu5hPzU
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) April 27, 2026
