Solar panels suspected in house roof fire in Ferndown

What happened

On 12 May 2025, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at 12.31pm to Golf Links Road, Ferndown, to a property fire involving the roof and first floor. Crews used breathing apparatus, hose lines and an aerial ladder platform. The stop was at 5.22pm, after which the incident was scaled back and firefighters remained to dampen down. A later reinspection was completed. No casualties were reported. The service believed the fire started accidentally and suspected that it started from solar panels. Nearby residents were advised to close windows and doors because of smoke, and the road was closed temporarily.

Contributing factors

The fire service believed the fire started accidentally and suspected solar panels as the origin. No further cause has been reported.

Lessons learned

1. A suspected solar origin should be recorded as a suspicion until a cause is confirmed.
2. A roof and first-floor fire at a home with solar panels may need breathing apparatus, hose lines, an aerial appliance and a later reinspection.
3. Smoke from such a fire may lead the fire service to advise nearby residents to close windows and doors and to close the road for a time.

More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

• Confirmed cause of the fire
• Whether solar panels started the fire
• Extent of damage to the property

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

Source

dwfire.org.uk