Rooftop solar array suspected in house roof fire at Horsell Common, Surrey
2023Published 20 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
A fire badly damaged the roof of a house on the edge of Horsell Common, Surrey, on a Saturday afternoon. The incident was reported on 12 June 2023. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service sent six fire engines and a water carrier. The fire service reported that the call was received around 3.50pm and that crews found the roof well alight. Two hosereels and one water jet were used, and operations concluded at 7.45pm.
The fire service reported no casualties. A spokesman said it was believed the fire may have been caused by the solar panels on the roof. The source does not give the size or age of the array, the make of the equipment, or the fault that was suspected.
Contributing factors
The fire service stated that the fire may have been caused by the solar panels on the roof. No specific fault, component or installation detail has been published, and the cause has not been confirmed.
Lessons learned
- Owners and installers of roof-mounted solar arrays should have DC wiring, connectors, isolators and junction points inspected periodically, since electrical faults in these circuits can start fires on the roof.
- Installers should check that cable routing, fixings and roof penetrations allow for heat and water ingress over the system's life.
- Fire and rescue services should record whether a fire involves a solar array, so that patterns can be identified and reported to the installation industry and regulators.
More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-10-20. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
