Garage fire from overheated solar batteries in South Woodham Ferrers

Sept 2021Published 28 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MinorThermal / fireProvisional

Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?

out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate

From the recordRoot cause Failed part

Where: domestic double garage on Tighfield Walk in South Woodham Ferrers
What: Solar batteries overheated and ignited in domestic garage
Response: Called at 12.35pm, extinguished by 1.59pm
Cause: Left connected overnight while testing with solar panels
Outcome: Spread throughout garage, prevented from reaching nearby homes

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What happened

Batteries connected to solar panels overheated and ignited inside a domestic double garage in South Woodham Ferrers. The fire spread throughout the garage. Firefighters were called at 12.35pm and stopped it spreading to nearby homes. Crews fully extinguished the fire by 1.59pm.

Contributing factors

The occupant was testing batteries on the solar panels and inadvertently left them connected overnight, after which the batteries overheated and ignited.

Lessons learned

Ensure battery connections are isolated when not actively monitored.
Consider installing a smoke alarm or heat detector in a garage that houses energy storage equipment.
On signs of fire, such as popping or banging, get everyone out and call the emergency services.

More lessons on detection and monitoring, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

Battery model and age
Cost of the damage
Time garage was out of use

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Source

essex-fire.gov.uk

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

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The record behind this entry

The record behind EIR-1537 holds the root cause, what failed and the fire service response as fields you can filter, count and export, with its source and their verification status. The cause is not hidden: the contributing factors above give it as the sources report it. The record adds it as a field. Companies are named in the roles the sources give them. Being named is not a finding of fault.

Failed part: •••••••
Fire service response: ••••••••••
Sources: ••••••••

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