Solar panel fire on home roof in Newburyport

Nov 2024Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorThermal / fireProvisional

Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?

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

Where: 247 Merrimac St in Newburyport
What: Solar panel on fire on roof of addition
Response: Newburyport firefighters extinguished it quickly
Cause: Not reported
Outcome: A portion of the street was closed

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What happened

On 19 November 2024, Newburyport firefighters responded to reports of smoke from the roof of a single-family home on Merrimac Street. On arrival they found a solar panel on fire on the roof of an addition. Crews knocked the fire down quickly, and a portion of the street was closed during the response. The cause, the extent of damage, and whether anyone was injured were not reported.

Contributing factors

The available report does not state a cause or a failed component.

Lessons learned

Rooftop solar fires can start on a small addition and still require a street closure while crews work.
Early reports may confirm only that smoke was seen and a panel was alight, so operators should not infer a cause until more is known.
Response notes should record whether the array was isolated and whether anyone was hurt, even when the fire is knocked down quickly.

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

Not yet known

Cause of the fire
Extent of damage
Whether anyone was injured

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

Source

newburyportnews.com

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Rooftop solar panels catch fire at a Perkins Way business in Newburyport EIR-2046 · 2022

Published 2026-09-25. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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