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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1262

Fire reported on solar-panel roof at Fitzwilliam College auditorium

Oct 2024Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorElectricalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Auditorium at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge
What
Small electrical fire on solar-panel roof
Injuries
None reported
Response
Four fire engines attended, crews remained more than an hour
Cause
Under investigation

What happened

On 4 October 2024 a small fire was reported on the exterior roof of the auditorium at Fitzwilliam College, a college of the University of Cambridge. Staff noticed a plume of smoke. College staff said the fire followed an issue with cables for the building's solar panels. The college said firefighters attended a small electrical fire, which was put out quickly, and that an investigation would follow to determine the cause. Four fire engines attended and crews remained for more than an hour. The college said nobody was harmed, no student housing was affected, nobody was evacuated, and the auditorium was expected to return to use the next morning.

Contributing factors

Not established. Staff suspected an electrical issue with cables serving the roof solar panels. The college said the cause was still to be investigated.

Lessons learned

  1. Roof-mounted solar cabling should be inspected so electrical faults can be found before they ignite.
  2. A prompt fire service call-out and post-incident safety check support quick return to use.
  3. Suspected causes should be recorded as suspected until the investigation is complete.

More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, fire suppression and firefighting, investigation and fleet-wide checks, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the cable fault
  • Solar panel model and age
  • Cost of the damage

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

Source

varsity.co.uk

Published 2026-09-25. 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: 97 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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