Planck Vision Systems: Solar Panel Fire at Chongwen Elementary School in Chiayi, $50,000 Estimated Damage

---

NEWS

On the morning of October 21, 2024, a fire broke out on the rooftop of the Yiren Building at Chongwen Elementary School in Chiayi, Taiwan. The fire, first noticed at around 9:06 AM by a physical education teacher, was believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the wiring of the building’s solar panels. Upon discovering the smoke, the school immediately evacuated all staff, students, and volunteers from the building and contacted the local fire department.

At 9:11 AM, the Chiayi City Fire Bureau dispatched three fire trucks and personnel to the scene. By 9:20 AM, the fire was extinguished. The firefighting team used the school’s own extinguishers to control the blaze until they arrived, preventing it from spreading further. Initial investigations suggest that the cause of the fire was a short circuit in the solar panel system.

The school’s principal, Hsu Yuan-chia, reported that the power to the affected solar panels was cut off immediately, and the school issued a public announcement to inform all students and staff about the situation. After a safety inspection, the school decided to switch to the regular power supply from Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) to ensure there were no disruptions to classes. No injuries were reported, and the school resumed normal activities shortly after.

While the fire was contained quickly and the disruption was minimal, it is still believed that the damage caused by the fire is significant, with estimated losses around $50,000, mostly related to the solar panel system and associated equipment.

This incident highlights the potential risks of aging solar energy systems, especially in educational institutions that may have older installations. It serves as a reminder of the importance of regular safety checks and proactive maintenance, particularly for solar panel systems that can pose a fire hazard if wiring and components are not carefully monitored.

For continuous monitoring of such systems, Planck Vision Systems provides advanced thermal imaging technology. Using the TRX600 robotic system, our solution can detect anomalies such as overheating in solar panels, enabling early fire detection and preventing potential disasters. Unlike traditional methods, which only respond to visible smoke or flames, thermal imaging allows for constant surveillance of abnormal heat conditions, offering an extra layer of safety and risk mitigation.

---