Solar Panels

[gpdexplorer 46]

Driving to the bank to today, I saw 2 houses that have been outfitted with solar panels. The first house had a multiple panels linked together that spanned the whole width and length of one side of the peaked roof. The second house had considerably fewer panels, but were mounted at a very steep angle. In a day when solar energy is becoming very popular, what problems or hazards do these panels pose to firefighters on the fireground? The way the panels were set up on the second house, it looked as if they would come down very easily under fire conditions. How do these panels affect the structural integrity of roofs? Also, stepping aside from fire conditions, how about snow and ice build up? It seems they might be hard to see under certain conditions, you might be walkin along the house, say on a aided call, etc. and the ice lets loose. Is it going to come down on you?