Solar panel fire forces evacuation at IKEA Bolingbrook

May 2018Published 22 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorThermal / fireProvisional

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out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate

Where: IKEA store in Bolingbrook, Illinois
What: Fire broke out in a rooftop solar panel
Injuries: None reported
Response: Firefighters responded; store evacuated and reopened within hours
Cause: Not reported

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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): IKEA

What happened

On 13 May 2018 a solar panel on the roof of the IKEA store in Bolingbrook, Illinois caught fire. A dark cloud of smoke was visible over the building. Hundreds of people were evacuated. Firefighters said a solar panel on the roof had caught fire. The second floor and upstairs restaurant were assessed for water damage. Customers were allowed back in after a few hours. No one was hurt.

Lessons learned

Rooftop solar on occupied commercial buildings should be included in fire risk assessments and evacuation planning.
Water used on a roof fire can affect floors below, so occupied areas under the array should be checked for water damage.
Reopening should wait until the fire is out and that check is complete.

More lessons on emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

Cause of the solar panel fire
Solar panel model and age
Exact downtime and repair cost

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Source

cbsnews.com

Published 2026-09-22. 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 States, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

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