Solar panel fault reported in rooftop fire at Tashkent store

What happened

On 15 May 2025 at 10:15, the Tashkent Department of Emergency Situations was told of a fire on the roof of the Havas store on Kipchak Street in the Sergeli district. Four firefighting and rescue crews attended. The fire was localised by 11:00 and extinguished by 11:04. Store representatives said the fire was caused by a solar panel installed on the roof by the building owner. No casualties or injuries were reported. No technical finding on the panel is given.

Contributing factors

The published account says store representatives attributed the fire to a rooftop solar panel. A malfunction is stated in the headline, but no inspection of the panel, isolator or cabling is reported.

Lessons learned

1. On an occupied commercial roof, staff and the fire service need a known way to isolate rooftop solar before and during a fire.
2. A short, recorded response timeline helps show whether a roof fire stayed on the roof.
3. An occupant’s account of cause should stay provisional until the panel and its wiring are examined.

Source

kun.uz