- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Fort Mill Today
By the People, for the People
Second Hazmat Incident at Silfab Solar Closes Nearby Elementary School in Fort Mill
The Fort Mill School District canceled classes at Flint Hill Elementary after a second leak in three days at the solar cell production site.
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
For the second time in three days, emergency and hazmat crews responded to a leak at Silfab Solar's newly opened plant in unincorporated Fort Mill, South Carolina. The Fort Mill School District chose to cancel classes at Flint Hill Elementary on March 5 due to the incident, which county officials said involved hydrofluoric acid, one of the substances of great concern to residents who opposed Silfab opening its plant next to the school.
Why it matters
The repeated leaks at the Silfab Solar plant have raised concerns among the local community about the safety and environmental impact of the facility's operations, especially given its proximity to an elementary school. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between economic development and community concerns over public health and safety.
The details
According to county officials, Thursday's leak involved hydrofluoric acid, which is a substance that residents had previously expressed concerns about. Silfab stated that the leak was not an emergency and that the hydrofluoric acid was being contained within the plant's secondary containment system. However, the Fort Mill School District still decided to cancel classes at Flint Hill Elementary as a precautionary measure.
- The first leak occurred on March 3 and involved 300 gallons of a solution with potassium hydroxide.
- The second leak occurred on March 5, prompting the school district to cancel classes at Flint Hill Elementary.
The players
Silfab Solar
A solar cell production company that recently opened a new plant in unincorporated Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Fort Mill School District
The school district that decided to cancel classes at Flint Hill Elementary due to the second leak at the Silfab Solar plant.
York County
The county that sent out an alert about the second leak at the Silfab Solar plant and advised that the incident involved hydrofluoric acid.
What they’re saying
“We have been assured the hydrofluoric acid is being contained within secondary containment, designed to capture chemicals released inadvertently.”
— York County officials (postandcourier.com)
“We are incredibly disappointed that another issue at Silfab Solar has occurred.”
— York County officials (postandcourier.com)
“There's 'no need for emergency services or any public safety concerns,'”
— Silfab officials (postandcourier.com)
What’s next
The Fort Mill School District and local authorities will continue to monitor the situation at the Silfab Solar plant and assess any potential risks to the nearby Flint Hill Elementary School. Residents and community members may also continue to voice their concerns about the plant's operations and safety measures.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between economic development and community concerns over public health and safety. It underscores the importance of transparent communication, robust safety protocols, and effective collaboration between companies, local authorities, and residents to address these complex issues.
