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Solar PVUnited KingdomEIR-1536

Inverter fire at a solar farm at East Langford, Kilkhampton

May 2020Published 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
From the recordFailed part hidden
Where
solar panel farm at East Langford, Kilkhampton, Bude
What
fire in an inverter
Response
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service attended with two appliances from Bude, one from Holsworthy and a wholetime officer
Cause
Not reported

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Western Power

What happened

On 22 May 2020, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire in an inverter on a solar panel farm at East Langford, Kilkhampton, Bude. Two appliances from Bude, one from Holsworthy and a wholetime officer were mobilised. Western Power and the site maintenance technician helped crews isolate the electrical connection to the inverter, and the scene was made safe. The service said there were no further details. Cause, extent of damage and whether anyone was hurt were not reported.

Lessons learned

  1. Coordinate at once with the distribution network operator and on-site maintenance staff so the electrical connection to an inverter can be isolated.
  2. Confirm isolation before treating the scene as safe.
  3. Do not infer a failure mode, damage or injuries from a short attendance notice that gives no further details.

More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Cause of the fire
  • Extent of damage
  • Downtime or cost

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

Source

db.cornwall.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).

Solar PV incidents in the United Kingdom: 97 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

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

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