Fire in home battery storage system connected to solar panels

What happened

Fire and Rescue Service crews attended a property on Kingsway in Chandlers Ford after smoke was seen issuing from the roof. The fire is believed to have started within a battery storage system connected by cabling to rooftop solar panels. An aerial ladder platform was deployed and electrical engineers attended to isolate the power. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and extinguished the fire using hose reel jets. The battery was removed and its temperature monitored with a thermal imaging camera. Ventilation fans cleared the smoke. Crews completed their work by around 18:30 with a later reinspection.

Lessons learned

1. Battery storage systems connected to solar panels require clear isolation points so first responders can cut supply without delay.
2. After removal of a battery involved in fire, monitor its temperature with thermal imaging to confirm it has stabilised.
3. A later reinspection after the initial response can detect any reignition risk in battery storage systems.

Not yet known

• Cause of the fire
• Battery model and age
• Duration of power outage
• Cost of damage and repairs

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Source

hantsfire.gov.uk