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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1155

Rooftop solar fire contained on a Peterborough warehouse roof

2024Published 21 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden
Where
Alwalton Hill, south-western edge of Peterborough, England
What
Fire broke out on roof with 21 rooftop solar arrays
Response
Eleven fire engines and more than fifty firefighters attended
Cause
Accidental
Outcome
Damage contained to the roof and building saved

What happened

In February 2024 a fire broke out on the roof of a commercial distribution warehouse at Alwalton Hill, on the south-western edge of Peterborough, England. The roof covers about 484,000 square feet and carried 21 rooftop solar arrays. Eleven fire engines and more than fifty firefighters attended, with a turntable ladder and a water carrier. Crews wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels. The fire service recorded the cause as accidental.

Damage was contained to the roof and the building was saved. All crews were back at their stations by 7:40 p.m. A published account linked the blaze to the solar panels and discussed an arc fault, but it does not report a site-specific finding that an arc fault was the cause.

Contributing factors

The published account does not identify a confirmed mechanism. It says the fire service recorded the cause as accidental, and it discusses in general terms how a direct-current arc can continue if insulation, a connector or a joint fails. That discussion is not reported as a finding for this fire.

Lessons learned

  1. Daylight keeps rooftop modules energised after supply isolation, so crews must plan for live dc circuits on arrival.
  2. A fire on a large commercial roof needs aerial access where ground hoses cannot reach.
  3. Connectors and wiring are a known origin of photovoltaic fires, so inspection of those parts should be planned.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Confirmed mechanism of the fire
  • Turbine model and age
  • Downtime or cost of damage

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

ecoportal.net

Published 2026-09-21. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Solar PV incidents in the United Kingdom, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Solar PV incidents in the United Kingdom: 95 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Solar farm fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: rooftop solar fires.

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