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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1272

Fire in solar panel distribution board at Birmingham college

June 2022Published 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
South and City College Birmingham, Bordesley Green campus
What
Fire in solar panel distribution board
Injuries
None reported
Response
Four crews from West Midlands Fire Service
Cause
Under investigation

What happened

Fire crews attended a blaze at South and City College Birmingham on the Bordesley Green campus on 22 June 2022. The fire was reported as being within a distribution board for solar panels on the second floor of a three-storey building. Four crews with 23 firefighters used breathing apparatus and a hydraulic platform. Roof cladding was removed, and the fire was confirmed extinguished at around 3:40 pm. Smoke logging affected part of the building and was ventilated.

Students and staff were evacuated. No injuries were reported, and a full search found no persons involved. West Midlands Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service also attended. The cause was reported as under investigation.

Contributing factors

The cause was reported as under investigation. No contributing factor has been stated.

Lessons learned

  1. Distribution equipment linked to rooftop solar should be reachable for isolation and firefighting without relying on extensive removal of cladding.
  2. Occupied buildings should have a clear plan to evacuate and ventilate when smoke from electrical plant logs part of the building.
  3. Investigations into solar distribution-board fires should be shared so other operators can check similar equipment.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, emergency response and public communication, investigation and fleet-wide checks, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Model and age of the distribution board
  • Cost of repairs and downtime
  • Exact electrical fault that started the fire

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

Source

birminghammail.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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