Fire involving solar panels spreads to adjoining house in Market Harborough

What happened

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service attended a building fire on Carroll Street in Market Harborough after multiple calls. The log records one two-storey domestic dwelling involved, with fire on the first floor and roof involving solar panels, and spread to an adjoining property. Crews made up four appliances and an aerial ladder platform, used breathing apparatus, and deployed hosereels and jets. All persons were accounted for. The gable was unstable and the roof collapsed, so crews later worked from outside.

Cadent attended and isolated the gas supply. Electricity was required to attend; the log does not say that supply was isolated. A stop message at 19:06 said the fire was believed out, with damping down under way and further inspection planned that night and the next day.

Contributing factors

Not reported. The fire service log does not say how the fire started, or whether the solar panels were the origin.

Lessons learned

1. A fire involving rooftop solar panels on a two-storey dwelling can spread to an adjoining property, so the array and shared structure should be treated as part of the scene.
2. Utility attendance is not the same as isolation: confirm which supplies have been made safe, and do not assume electricity has been isolated because gas has.
3. Roof and gable collapse can force external firefighting, so damping down and a planned reinspection remain necessary after a stop message.

Not yet known

• How the fire started
• Whether solar panels were the origin
• Whether electricity supply was isolated
• Cost of the damage

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Source

leics-fire.gov.uk