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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1493

Solar panels catch fire on Bedford warehouse roof

May 2026Published 28 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorThermal / fireProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden
Where
warehouse roof in Caxton Road, Bedford
What
fire affecting solar panels on the roof
Response
fire crews isolated gas, electricity and solar panels
Cause
accidental

What happened

Crews from Bedford, Kempston and Leighton Buzzard attended a fire affecting solar panels on the roof of a warehouse in Caxton Court, Caxton Road, Bedford. The call was at 1.18pm on the afternoon of Monday 25 May 2026. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the blaze, reported to measure about 50 by 30 metres, using an extended hose reel and a thermal imaging camera. An aerial platform and a water carrier were also used. Gas and electricity supplies were isolated, as were the solar panels, under the guidance of engineers. The cause was recorded as accidental.

Contributing factors

The fire service recorded the cause as accidental. No further contributing factors were reported.

Lessons learned

  1. Isolate gas, electricity and the solar array under engineer guidance before crews work on a rooftop solar fire.
  2. Thermal imaging, an aerial platform and an extended hose can help crews reach and check a large roof fire.
  3. Record an accidental finding and share it so operators can review inspection of warehouse rooftop arrays.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, detection and monitoring, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact failed component or wiring
  • Array model and age
  • Downtime and repair cost

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

Source

bedfordtoday.co.uk

Published 2026-09-28. 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. Also: rooftop solar fires.

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