House and outbuilding fire in Cricklewood, with PV Stop used on rooftop solar panels

What happened

On 7 September 2023, six fire engines and about 40 firefighters attended a fire at an end-of-terrace house on Garth Road in Cricklewood. A detached outbuilding was destroyed, and a small part of the ground floor and the roof was damaged. No injuries were reported. Crews used a 32-metre turntable ladder to apply PV Stop to solar panels on the roof. The Brigade was called at 13:17 and the fire was under control by 15:07. The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by resistive heating in an extension lead. It is not reported that the panels started the fire.

Contributing factors

The Brigade says solar panels involved in a fire can be difficult to isolate, and that current can travel along water jets and hoses. Crews applied PV Stop to block sunlight before working closer to the roof. It is not reported whether these panels were damaged or were still generating.

Lessons learned

1. Rooftop solar can remain live in daylight even when a fire has another believed cause, so crews need a way to reduce generation before working on the roof.
2. Water applied near energised panels can conduct current along jets and hoses, so isolation or light-blocking should come before close-in work.
3. Records should keep the believed ignition source separate from the presence of solar equipment, so a precautionary deployment is not later read as proof that the array failed.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Solar panel model and age
• Cost of damage and repairs
• Time to restore the house

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

Source

london-fire.gov.uk