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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1522

Fire damages roof with one solar panel in The Charltons

Mar 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
Where
Two-storey domestic property in The Charltons
What
Roof fire with one solar panel involved
Response
Crews extinguished the fire with thermal imaging cameras
Cause
Not reported
Outcome
25 per cent fire damage to the roof void

What happened

On 23 March 2026, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended an address in The Charltons after a call reporting smoke from the roof of a building. On arrival, crews found the roof well alight with one solar panel. The fire involved the roof space of a two-storey property of stone and slate construction, measuring 20 metres by 10 metres. Six fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended.

Crews extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, a safety jet, thermal imaging cameras, ladders and the aerial platform. The service recorded 25% fire damage to the roof void. It did not state whether the solar panel started the fire.

Contributing factors

The fire service did not state a cause, or whether the solar panel, its cabling or any other part of the installation contributed.

Lessons learned

  1. Treat a roof fire where a solar panel is involved as potentially live electrical equipment until it is isolated.
  2. Record whether the panel, cabling or isolator was damaged, not only that a panel was present in the fire.
  3. Keep the public clear while crews work at height with ladders and an aerial platform.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the fire
  • Solar panel model and age
  • Cost of the damage

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

Source

dsfire.gov.uk

Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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