Buckingham solar project’s brush burning drifts into school complex

A number of Buckingham County residents called the sheriff’s office on Friday afternoon, after some unexpected smoke drifted into the area. Officials at several schools also raised concerns. At Buckingham Primary and Buckingham Elementary, students were required to stay inside for recess, as the air outside was hazy, with a thick smell of smoke. It turned out all that stemmed from brush burning happening at a Buckingham solar facility on Route 20, just next door.

No one was hurt, there were no health issues or other problems reported as a result of the smoke. It also appears that weather was to blame for the situation, rather than any mistakes on the contractor’s part.

Buckingham Emergency Services Director Cody Davis said the contractor had gone through all the required safety precautions earlier in the week, along with notifying people this was taking place. The Buckingham solar project even had its own fire engine on site, Davis said. But the problem was that Friday morning’s weather had made the smoke settle to the ground worse than it had in previous days.

“I told him that the Public Schools Division had concern for air quality at the school next door,” Davis said. “He immediately offered to cease burning operations until after school had let out for the weekend.”

In addition, the Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department worked with Buckingham County staff to check air quality inside the school complex with air monitors. All readings came back within what Davis said were suitable parameters.

“I commend the schools for restricting recess to “indoors only” until we could mitigate the issue,” Davis said. “They acted swiftly and maintained the health and safety of those in the complex as their top priority. I also appreciate the pleasant partnership that the contractor afforded us as we traversed the problem.”

Davis said the contractor followed all the required procedures. But weather conditions simply created a problem that was quickly addressed.

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