Fire damages roof and solar panels at Bow Wharf, London
EIR-1248Provisional entry. Published from first reports. This entry is rechecked automatically and updated when more sources appear. Next update: 25 September 2026.
At Bow Wharf operated by H20Urban with EPC contractor Rooff, on 2 July 2017 a fire broke out at the Bow Wharf development, a five-storey residential block under construction on Wennington Road in London. The London Fire Brigade said the fourth floor and roof were alight. Reporting said at least 75% of the roof was destroyed, and a photograph showed solar panels on fire. A witness said the spread appeared concentrated around the panels. The cause was not known, and it was not reported whether the panels started the fire. Mile End park and nearby roads were evacuated. A witness also reported access difficulties for crews. H20Urban said the affected part was unoccupied, no construction workers were on site, and there were no injuries. Twelve fire engines and about 80 firefighters attended.
The cause has not been reported. A witness said emergency access had been raised during planning and that crews had difficulty reaching the building. That account has not been confirmed by the fire investigation, which was still ongoing.
- Check fire-appliance access to rooftops before a residential block with rooftop solar reaches an advanced stage of construction.
- Treat panels that are alight as involved equipment until investigators say whether they started or only suffered the fire.
- Keep isolation and evacuation arrangements in place on sites that are close to completion, even when no workers are present.
Published 2026-09-25. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.