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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1305

Fire at Thornton Heath flats reported to have been caused by an overheated solar panel

2017Published 25 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden
Where
Thornton Heath flats, United Kingdom
What
Fire reported at Thornton Heath flats
Cause
Overheated solar panel (housing association account)

What happened

A fire was reported at flats in Thornton Heath. A June 2017 Croydon Advertiser headline said the owners attributed it to an overheated solar panel. The article is no longer available, so damage, injuries and any investigation findings are not known from this source.

Contributing factors

The only stated factor is the owners' report, in the headline, of an overheated solar panel. How it overheated, and whether other equipment was involved, is not reported.

Lessons learned

  1. Overheating in rooftop solar equipment can start a fire in a block of flats.
  2. Operators of solar on occupied buildings should be able to isolate the equipment and tell the fire service where it is.
  3. A headline attribution is not a confirmed failure mode and should be checked if an investigation is later published.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Damage to the building
  • Injuries to residents
  • Fire service response
  • Independent cause description

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

Source

croydonadvertiser.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.

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