A solar-thermal power generating station near Gila Bend is back online today after a fire started at the plant on Wednesday night. The blaze is under investigation.
It sparked in a pump room at the Solana power plant, the largest of its kind in the United States. General Manager of Solana’s USA operations Fred Redell said it didn’t do a lot of damage and nobody was hurt.
"Our procedures worked very well, everybody did exactly what they were supposed to do," Redell said. "The assistance from local authorities was perfect and we hope not to have any more incidents like this."
The plant has its own crew of firefighters, but the Buckeye and Gila Bend fire departments were called to help put out the flames.
The 3-square-mile plant is owned by Abengoa Solar of Spain and generates enough electricity for 90,000 Arizona Public Service Company residential customers.