Solar panel fires prompt shutdown at Suffolk schools
2026Published 28 Sept 2026
- Where
- Sidegate Primary School in Ipswich and two other Suffolk schools
- Operator
- Suffolk County Council
- What
- Fires at roof-mounted solar panels
- Cause
- No common fault confirmed; investigations ongoing
- Outcome
- Isolating solar systems at 80 schools as precaution
Companies named in this entry: Suffolk County Council
What happened
Fires occurred at Sidegate Primary School in Ipswich and two other Suffolk schools where solar panels had been installed on roofs. Suffolk County Council is isolating and switching off solar panel systems at 80 schools as a precaution. The panels were installed between 2011 and 2016 under the council's Renewable Energy Scheme. Investigations by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service are ongoing and no common fault has been confirmed across the incidents. Engineers will complete the isolations over the next two weeks without disrupting school operations.
Contributing factors
Solar panels identified as a potential factor in each fire. No conclusive link established between the incidents.
Lessons learned
- Roof-mounted solar panels can contribute to school fires, so operators should isolate similar systems from 2011 to 2016 until checked.
- Multiple roof fires at solar sites require county-wide isolation even without a confirmed common fault.
Not yet known
- Exact cause of each fire
- Solar panel models and ages
- Cost of isolations and any repairs
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.