Solar panel reported to have impeded firefighters at Manchester fire, New Hampshire
2017Published 5 Nov 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
In January 2017 the New Hampshire Union Leader reported a fire in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the United States, in which a solar panel was reported to have impeded firefighters. The cat in the fire died, according to the headline. Only the headline and feed summary could be checked, so the building type, the position of the panel, the origin and timing of the fire, and how the panel obstructed firefighters are not confirmed. No operator, owner, installer or equipment manufacturer is named in the material available.
Contributing factors
Not reported in the material available. The source does not say whether the solar installation caused or contributed to the fire, or whether the panel itself was involved in its spread.
Lessons learned
- Solar installations should be labelled with isolation points that firefighters can locate and switch off quickly, so that power is not live during firefighting operations.
- Fire and rescue services should include solar arrays in pre-incident planning and familiarise crews with how to isolate PV systems on residential and commercial buildings.
- Installers and building owners should check that array layouts leave access routes for firefighters, particularly on pitched roofs and where panels cover ventilation or access points.
More lessons on fire suppression and firefighting, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.
Source
Other entries that name Manchester
Published 2026-11-05. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
