Suspected short circuit in rooftop solar system sparks commercial building fire
Nov 2026Published 9 Nov 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
A fire started at a commercial premises on the morning of Monday 9 November 2026 in the Bela Vista neighbourhood of Chapecó, Brazil. When the Corpo de Bombeiros (fire service) arrived, the owner and bystanders had already controlled the flames using fire extinguishers. According to the fire service, the fire began in the upper part of the ceiling near the reception area and damaged the ceiling and the roof covering.
Firefighters found small fire points in the roof structure. The fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in the solar panel system installed on the building. Several photovoltaic panels were damaged, as was part of the zinc-aluminium steel roof sheeting. After removing the electrical risk, crews extinguished the remaining flames and cooled the timber structure using about 50 litres of water. They then inspected the building for hidden fire points.
Contributing factors
The fire service suspects a short circuit in the rooftop solar panel system, but the source does not confirm the cause. The roof structure is timber, which allowed fire points to remain in concealed areas. The electrical risk had to be isolated before firefighting could safely continue.
Lessons learned
- Inspect the DC and AC wiring, connectors and isolators of rooftop PV systems regularly, and especially after installation, because faults can start fires in concealed ceiling and roof spaces.
- Ensure the PV system can be isolated quickly and that firefighters know where the isolators are, since the electrical supply must be removed before firefighting can safely proceed.
- After a fire in a building with a timber roof, inspect concealed spaces for hidden fire points, as embers can remain and re-ignite.
More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, fire suppression and firefighting, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-11-09. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
