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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>Wrenches,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>Thanks for the great notes, guys. On and
off-list.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>For the record, I first ran across this about a week
ago doing some research into how many fires are attributed to or otherwise
related to solar. This was spurred by the recent hot-topic related to the
inaccurate and misleading article on the firefighter's website. I happened
to be applying various search techniques that were in the "How To Do Online
Research" powerpoint that Joel D offered and sent. <EM><FONT
color=#ff0000>Thanks Joel!</FONT></EM> </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>Of course my twisted sense of
humor thought it was hilarious at the time, especially in light of the
research I was working on. When it was included in the monthly list
of "recalled consumer items" in this morning's paper, I figured it had to be a
sign.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>A couple of notes that I think are interesting &/or
important here:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>1) As witnessed by Travis & Todd's
experiences, intensified sunlight can be hazardous.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>2) Considering the amount of solar, thermal &
PV, that is out there and the number of years that it has been, I found
surprisingly little in the way of reported <EM>"fire caused by solar"</EM>
incidents. My research has Hallmark as the leading manufacturer with
two in this statistic. </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=359481201-12012009>I'll put a caveat of <EM>"so far" </EM>on
the end of that. Hope it stays that way.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>3) Keep in mind that, fire + solar in the same
article do not mean "solar caused fire". In fact, it does not even
mean there is or was a fire... Or necessarily even have anything to do with
solar. Solar Car catches fire <EM>(caused by overcharged batteries)</EM>;
SolarFire <EM>(astrology software);</EM> Solar Projects Catching Fire
<EM>(headline of an article in a NC newspaper. Article was about the booming
solar business).</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>4) A great many incidents are not reported in
places reached by the WWW. I personally know of several structure fires
that have occurred on buildings that have PV systems on them. In these
cases, the fires were not related to the PV, and the PV did NOT get in the way
of the firefighters. These cases did not turn up in my
searches. The reality is that there would not be a reason
for the PV system to have been mentioned in a typical blotter
story. Unfortunately. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>You see, the way I look at it is this: The
stories need to be told. Truthfully and wholly. The good, the bad, and the
ugly. Maybe if these things were better tracked, there would be less
likelihood of future "experts" spreading falsehoods in the name of "saving
firefighters".</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>We all need to understand how the work we do today
affects somebody down the road. Are firefighters being overly
protective? Are solar installers doing dangerous work or installing in a
manner that poses undue risks to firefighters?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>I c</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=359481201-12012009>an't really tell ya based on the
statistics. Or maybe I can. X # of PV systems deployed over Y #
years with 0 structure fires caused by PV reported? X # of PV systems
deployed over Y # years with 0 times that firefighters report being impeded by
the PV system. Which is what I started out looking for in the first
place. I found Frosty instead.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>Would love to get into the archives on that "secret
list" to see what they have to say about solar and their experiences
there.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=359481201-12012009>$0.02001</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><EM><FONT face="Monotype Corsiva"
size=4><STRONG></STRONG></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><EM><FONT face="Monotype Corsiva" size=4><STRONG>Matt
Lafferty</STRONG></FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:gilligan06@gmail.com">gilligan06@gmail.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=359481201-12012009><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=359481201-12012009></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B>
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Travis
Creswell<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, January 11, 2009 11:51 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
'RE-wrenches'<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [RE-wrenches] Snowman Armed with Solar
Powered Flamethrower<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Before we get told to
stop telling stories I have got to tell this one…..<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I have a solar cooker
made by ZomeWorks. It’s about 4’ diameter reflector on stand with hole in
middle and you set your pot in the hole. I used to keep it on my patio
until I came home one day and noticed a 1” deep x 1” wide x 8” long scorch
burned into one of the 4x4 posts. Apparently the wind had blown the cover
off and moved the reflector into just the right position. How my entire
porch didn’t catch on fire and take my house with it I don’t know but needless
to say it got put inside from that point on.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Travis<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma color=black size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Todd Cory<BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Sunday, January 11, 2009 1:31
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> gilligan06@gmail.com;
RE-wrenches<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re:
[RE-wrenches] Snowman Armed with Solar Powered Flamethrower</SPAN></FONT><FONT
color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#006600 size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=#006600 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">It is wise to consider the power
of the sun. I used to keep a gallon jug of water in my work truck for drinking.
One day I noticed it had magnified the sun and burned a long hole in the seat. I
am lucky it did not start the truck on
fire!<BR><BR>Todd</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>