Fire service links southwest Columbia house fire to roof solar panels

What happened

On 18 July 2026, Columbia Fire Department crews responded to a house fire in the 4900 block of Craydon Drive in southwest Columbia. A fire service press release said the fire was accidental and that the cause was electrical and related to roof-mounted solar panels. Crews found a working fire on the roof that had progressed into the attic. No injuries were reported, and the loss was described as predominantly confined to the attic.

People who had been inside said they had not noticed the fire and that the alarms had not activated. A second alarm was called because of spread in the attic and the heat. The panels were also said to have produced a toxic, noxious smell.

Contributing factors

The fire service said the cause was electrical and related to the roof-mounted solar panels. It did not describe a more specific component failure. Hot weather, reported in the low 90s, led crews to bring extra resources and rotate firefighters. Heat was not reported as the cause of the fire.

Lessons learned

1. Roof solar fires can spread into the attic, so operators must fit detection that covers both roof and roof space.
2. Burning roof panels give off toxic fumes, so crews must treat the scene as a hazardous atmosphere.
3. Alarms failed to activate and occupants did not notice the fire, so homes with roof solar need checked detection systems.

Not yet known

• Specific component that failed
• Solar panel model and age
• Cost of damage and downtime

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

Source

abc17news.com