A wind-fueled fire broke out along Hoffman Road in West End on Friday afternoon, briefly threatening a nearby solar farm and highlighting a dangerous day of outdoor fires across Moore County.
The blaze ignited around 1:45 p.m. in a wooded area bordering Hoffman Road and a fenced-in solar farm. Firefighters arriving on scene encountered heavy flames and thick smoke, with the fire having already crept into the solar facility’s perimeter.
Crews faced a critical challenge: the solar farm’s fencing was electrified, and no representatives from the property were on site to grant immediate access. This delayed efforts to extinguish flames that had already reached inside the fenced boundary.
Despite the obstacle, firefighters were eventually able to gain entry into the enclosure and prevent any major damage to the solar panel equipment.
Units from West End, Seven Lakes, Pinehurst, and Pinebluff fire departments responded to the call.
This incident was one of several outdoor fires reported across the county Friday, as gusty winds in the afternoon hours contributed to the rapid spread of flames in dry brush and wooded areas. Another fire along Joel Road was quickly extinguished by the Carthage Fire Department.
No injuries were reported in connection with any of the fires. A cause for the fires has not been released.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
