Bungalow in Sidmouth destroyed by fire started in solar panels
Sept 2026Published 28 Sept 2026
- Where
- Bungalow in Sidmouth, Yardlands
- What
- Fire started in rooftop solar panels and destroyed bungalow
- Injuries
- None reported
- Cause
- Accidental
- Response
- Six fire crews attended and extinguished fire around 8.45pm
What happened
A fire destroyed a bungalow in Sidmouth after the fire service said it started within solar panels on the roof. Six fire crews attended the scene in Yardlands on 21 September 2026 after the roof became fully involved. Crews worked to protect an adjacent bungalow because of a limited water supply. Two occupants had already left safely. The fire was extinguished around 8.45pm. The bungalow was reported as 100 per cent damaged. The cause was deemed accidental. It was not thought that anyone was injured.
Contributing factors
The fire service said the fire started within the rooftop solar panels and deemed the cause accidental. No further mechanism was reported. Crews reported a limited water supply while protecting the adjacent bungalow.
Lessons learned
- Rooftop solar panels can ignite and spread fire to the whole roof before crews arrive, so insurers should require early detection and automatic isolation.
- Limited water supply at house fires with solar equipment needs pre-planned alternatives when protecting adjacent buildings.
- Occupants should evacuate early when a fire starts in rooftop solar panels, as the origin may take time to confirm.
Not yet known
- Exact mechanism of ignition in the panels
- Model and age of the solar panels
- Cost of damage and rebuild
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.