Fire at Bristol hospital started in solar panels
2025Published 28 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- St Michael's Hospital in Bristol
- Operator
- University Hospitals Bristol
- What
- Fire began in solar panels on the roof
- Injuries
- None reported
- Cause
- Fault in the solar panels
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What happened
A fire broke out in solar panels on the roof of St Michael's Hospital in Bristol. The blaze forced the evacuation of the maternity unit, including pregnant women and babies. Emergency services were called shortly before 16:30 BST on a Thursday and firefighters extinguished the fire on the roof within an hour. No other part of the hospital was affected and the hospital reopened by 19:00 the same day. No injuries were reported. Some appointments were later rescheduled. Avon Fire and Rescue Service said the cause was accidental and due to a fault in the solar panels. An investigation was opened.
Contributing factors
A fault in the solar panels, described by the fire service as accidental. The precise fault was not reported.
Lessons learned
- Rooftop solar on occupied buildings should be installed by qualified contractors from a reputable company and kept on a regular maintenance schedule.
- Sites with vulnerable occupants need a plan to move people clear of a roof fire quickly, then confirm the fire is confined before reopening.
- A contained roof fire can still disrupt services, so operators should expect cancelled appointments and a follow-up investigation even when no injuries are reported.
More lessons on worker safety and safe systems of work, investigation and fleet-wide checks, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Nature of the solar panel 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
Other entries that name Bristol
Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
