Electrical fault fire in loft cupboard connected to rooftop solar panels in Wickford
May 2023Published 28 Sept 2026
- Where
- London Road, Wickford, detached house
- What
- Roof space fire in loft electrical cupboard
- Response
- Fire service called at 5.13pm, fire out by 8.14pm
- Cause
- Electrical fault
- Outcome
- Residents left safely, closed door limited spread
What happened
On 15 May 2023, crews were called at 5.13pm to London Road, Wickford, after residents heard smoke alarms and saw smoke from the roof of a detached house. The roof space was on fire. Firefighters found the source in an electrical cupboard in the loft connected to solar panels on the roof. The fire was extinguished by 8.14pm. The fire service stated the cause was an electrical fault. The residents got out and called the fire service. A closed door to the electrical cupboard was reported to have limited the spread of smoke and fire.
Contributing factors
The fire service stated the cause was an electrical fault in a loft cupboard connected to the rooftop solar panels. No further detail on the fault was reported.
Lessons learned
- Working smoke alarms allowed residents to leave and call the fire service before the fire grew.
- A closed door to the electrical cupboard limited smoke and fire spread in the roof space.
- An electrical fault in a loft cupboard serving rooftop solar panels can start a roof-space fire.
Not yet known
- Exact nature of the electrical fault
- Age and model of the solar panels
- Extent of damage and repair cost
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Source
Other entries that name Wickford
Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.