Fire damages solar panel batteries in Teignmouth garage
June 2026Published 28 Sept 2026
- Where
- Valley Close area of Teignmouth, domestic property garage
- What
- Fire damaged four solar panel batteries in garage
- Injuries
- None reported
- Cause
- Accidental
- Response
- Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service extinguished fire
What happened
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended a domestic property fire in the Valley Close area of Teignmouth on 3 June 2026. The incident involved solar panel batteries in a garage attached to the property. Four batteries were damaged by fire, and the garage sustained approximately 20% smoke damage. The electrics had been isolated before crews arrived. Crews from Teignmouth and Dawlish extinguished the fire using breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, a safety jet, a thermal image camera and a gas monitor. The fire service reported the cause as accidental. No injuries were reported.
Contributing factors
The fire service reported the cause as accidental. No further contributing factor was stated.
Lessons learned
- Solar batteries in an attached garage can produce smoke damage to the structure even after the fire is controlled.
- Electrics isolated before arrival does not remove the fire hazard from solar batteries already involved.
- Crews need early notice of solar batteries to use breathing apparatus, thermal imaging and gas monitors.
Not yet known
- Battery model and age
- Cost of damage and repairs
- Duration of any power outage
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Source
Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.