SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS TRAINING
 
By Public Information Officer Clay Myers
April 24, 2016
 

Fifteen firefighters and officers from Gamber participated in a half-day training session at the new Carroll County Public Safety Training Center in Westminster. The topic was Firefighter Safety & Emergency Response for Solar Power Systems and it was sponsored by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Firefighters from Carroll County, Baltimore County, Ft. Meade, and several other jurisdictions participated. The training session was repeated twice on Sunday, April 24.

Presenters included Nick Meyers, a master electrician from Solar City and and Captain Ray Stovall, a firefighter and training officer from the West Stafford, Connecticut Fire Department. Classroom sessions were followed with activities outside using a solar panel training prop set up in the training area.

The sessions provided very useful information to firefighters as more and more residences and businesses in Carroll County are adding solar panels to their structures or to their properties.
 
Nick Meyers of Solar City demonstrates electrical output from two solar panels - the top one was damaged and the bottom one was intact. The damaged panel still produced an almost equal amount of electricity.
Nick Meyers of Solar City demonstrates electrical output from two solar panels - the top one was damaged and the bottom one was intact. The damaged panel still produced an almost equal amount of electricity.
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Participants in the solar panel training examine the damaged panel.
Participants in the solar panel training examine the damaged panel.
 
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Firefighters examine the solar panel prop at the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center.
Firefighters examine the solar panel prop at the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center.