Downed line at Energix solar farm sparks brush fire, cuts power to 1,500 customers

EVERGREEN — A downed power line at the Energix Renewable solar farm along U.S. Route 460 sparked a brush fire and knocked out electric service to roughly 1,500 Dominion Energy customers across the Town of Appomattox and east toward Evergreen and Hixburg on Sunday morning, fire officials said.

Dominion Energy outage tracker at 9:04 a.m. showing 1,507 customers out near Appomattox — A screenshot from Dominion Energy’s online outage tracker at 9:04 a.m. Sunday shows roughly 1,500 customers without power across the Appomattox area, with the cause listed as “pending investigation.” (Dominion Energy)

The outage hit shortly before 8:30 a.m. By 9:04 a.m., Dominion Energy’s online outage tracker showed 1,507 customers without service in the Appomattox area, with the cause listed as “pending investigation” and crews dispatched.

A Dominion Energy representative tracing the source of the outage discovered the brush fire at the solar facility and remained on scene when Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department crews arrived at about 10:30 a.m., according to a press release from the department.

Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department brush unit staged at the Energix solar farm — An Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department brush unit stages along a service road at the Energix Renewable solar farm off U.S. Route 460 as a firefighter works the edge of a charred patch of grass Sunday morning. (Photo courtesy Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department / Chief Jonathan Garrett)

Firefighters contained the fire by suppressing active flames and cutting a fuel break to prevent further spread. The Virginia Department of Forestry assisted with a forestry dozer.

Preliminary findings indicate the fire originated from a downed power line connected to the solar facility, the fire department said.

A downed power conductor in scorched grass at the Energix solar farm — A downed conductor lies in scorched grass at the Energix Renewable solar farm. Fire officials said preliminary findings indicate the brush fire originated from a downed power line connected to the solar facility. (Photo courtesy Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department / Chief Jonathan Garrett)

Responding units from the Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department included Brush 1, Brush 2, Engine 2 and Tanker 1.

Dominion’s outage map showed service fully restored by 1:50 p.m.

Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department apparatus staged at the Energix solar farm — Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department crews stage apparatus on a gravel access road at the Energix solar farm Sunday. Firefighters from the department, joined by the Virginia Department of Forestry, contained the brush fire and cut a fuel break to prevent further spread. (Photo courtesy Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department / Chief Jonathan Garrett)

The Energix Pamplin solar farm, operated by Caden Energix Pamplin LLC, is a 15.7-megawatt photovoltaic facility that entered service in July 2020.

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