Solar panels catch fire on roof of Waterbury home

What happened

Firefighters were called at 12:17 p.m. on Friday to a residence on Clough Road in Waterbury, with a resident reported inside. On arrival they found that solar panels attached near the top of the roof had ignited, and they extended an attack line. The fire was under control in six minutes. Firefighters helped the resident outside and surveyed the interior for any further fire. Utility companies attended to check the safety of the remaining panels and other infrastructure. The resident was not displaced, and no injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported.

Lessons learned

1. Roof solar panels that ignite must be treated as part of the fire scene on arrival, as the array sits on the building fabric.
2. An early interior survey after a roof fire can confirm whether flames have spread into the home.
3. Utility crews should attend after suppression to confirm that remaining panels and wiring remain safe.

Not yet known

• Cause of the ignition
• Model and age of the panels
• Cost of repairs

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Source

newstimes.com