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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1533

Solar panel fault causes fire at village hall roof in Cheriton Bishop

Sept 2022Published 28 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisional
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
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
Cheriton Bishop village hall
What
Fire in roof solar panels spread through entire roof
Injuries
None reported
Cause
Fault in the solar panels on the roof
Outcome
100 per cent damage to the roof

What happened

A fire started in solar panels on the roof of a single storey village hall in Cheriton Bishop and spread across the entire roof. The roof sustained 100 percent damage while the rest of the building was affected by heat, smoke and water. Fire crews responded with multiple appliances, breathing apparatus and hose reel jets, and used an aerial ladder platform to assist extinguishing. The fire was accidental.

Contributing factors

Fault in the solar panels on the roof.

Lessons learned

  1. Regular inspection and maintenance of roof mounted solar arrays can identify faults before they ignite.
  2. Fire services should plan for rapid water supply and access when solar panels are present on roofs.
  3. Early detection systems for electrical faults in photovoltaic installations reduce the risk of fire spread.

More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, fire suppression and firefighting, detection and monitoring, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Nature of the solar panel fault
  • Model and age of the solar panels
  • Cost of the damage
  • Duration of downtime

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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Chart to reuse with this story: Solar PV incidents in the United Kingdom, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

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Solar farm fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: rooftop solar fires.

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