Solar panel inverter fault destroys two Lewes homes

May 2017Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisional

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From the recordRoot cause Failed part

Where: Prince Edward's Road, Lewes, 8 May 2017
What: Fire started in roof space and spread to adjoining house
Response: Eight fire engines and forty firefighters attended
Cause: Electrical fault in the inverter of roof-mounted solar panels
Outcome: Both properties were destroyed

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What happened

Eight fire engines and forty firefighters attended a blaze at Prince Edward's Road, Lewes on 8 May 2017. The fire started in the roof space of one house and spread to the adjoining property. Investigators from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service determined that the cause was an electrical fault in the inverter of a roof-mounted solar panel system. Firefighters removed roof tiles to extinguish the fire in the roof void. Both properties were destroyed.

Contributing factors

Electrical fault in the solar panel inverter.

Lessons learned

An electrical fault in a roof-mounted solar inverter started a fire in the roof void, so operators should ensure inverters receive the same installation and maintenance standards as other household electrical equipment.
Firefighters had to remove roof tiles to reach the fire in the roof void, so property owners should notify fire services of solar PV systems at domestic sites.

More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

Inverter model and age
Cost of the damage
Duration of repairs or downtime

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Source

theargus.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).

The record behind this entry

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