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Solar PVUnited StatesEIR-2435

Rooftop solar wiring blamed for attic fire at Visalia home

Apr 2019Published 17 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisionalNext update 17 Oct
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What happened

On Monday 29 April 2019, firefighters were called to a single-storey family home in Visalia, California, after callers reported a fire. Smoke was seen coming from the gable vents at both ends of the house. Two people and a pet were inside, and the family escaped before crews arrived. Firefighters shut off electricity, gas and the solar array's power at the main breaker. Their initial investigation found that attic insulation above the master bedroom and bathroom was smouldering.

The fire service said an electrical wiring malfunction in the rooftop solar panels had scorched through roofing materials and set the insulation alight in the attic. The fire caused an estimated $25,000 of damage to the home and $5,000 to contents.

Contributing factors

According to the fire service's initial investigation, the fire was caused by an electrical wiring malfunction in the solar panels on the roof. The wire scorched through the roofing materials, which allowed the attic insulation to smoulder and ignite. This finding is preliminary and has not been confirmed by a full investigation report. The source does not describe the array's age, installer or maintenance history.

Lessons learned

  1. Inspect rooftop PV wiring, cable routing and connectors where they pass through roof coverings, since chafing or scorching in the roof void can start a concealed fire.
  2. Confirm that installers protect DC cables from heat and abrasion and that roof penetrations are sealed and separated from combustible materials.
  3. Make sure occupants and responders can quickly isolate the array at a clearly labelled main breaker, and check attics and roof voids after any suspected PV fault.

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

Source

visaliatimesdelta.com

Other entries that name Visalia

Published 2026-10-17. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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