Solar Panel Incidents

Reference

1633

Information Released

Yes

Received Date

20/02/2026 12:00 am

Responded Date

18/03/2026 12:00 am

FOI Topics

Incident and emergency response

Request detail

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to request the following information from the Fire Authority. Please may you provide me with answers to the following questions.

If possible, please provide the information in the Excel spreadsheet attached. If you are unable to answer any questions, please complete the questionnaire as best as possible and share any available relevant data.

  1. How many fire incidents involving solar panels (photovoltaic) systems were recorded in the following time periods?
  1. 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2022
  2. 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2023
  3. 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024
  4. 01/12/2025 – 31/12/2025

 

  1. In 2024, how many fire incidents involving solar panels occurred in each of the following locations?
  1. Residential properties
  2. Commercial properties
  3. Industrial properties
  4. Solar farms (ground-mounted solar installations)

 

  1. In 2025, how many fire incidents involving solar panels occurred in each of the following locations?
  1. Residential properties
  2. Commercial properties
  3. Industrial properties
  4. Solar farms (ground-mounted solar installations)

 

  1. In 2024, how many solar-panel related fires originated in the following settings?
  1. Solar panel
  2. DC cabling/ connectors
  3. Invertor
  4. Battery bank

 

  1. In 2025, how many solar-panel related fires originated in the following settings?
  1. Solar panel
  2. DC cabling/ connectors
  3. Invertor
  4. Battery bank
  1. In the following years, how many fire incidents involving solar panels were

a.           confined to the solar panel system?

b.           spread to the wider building?

Please provide figures for:

a) 01/01/2022 – 31/12/2022

b) 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2023

c) 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2024

d) 01/01/2025 – 31/12/2025

 

  1. What equipment or firefighting methods are typically used by your fire service to extinguish or control solar panel fires?
  1. Standard water hoses/jets
  2. Foam additive hoses
  3. CO2 and/or Dry Powder
  4. Specialist extinguishing agents, if so please specify
  5. Other agents or equipment/tools, please specify (e.g. black out blankets, PV Stop)

Response detail

Thank you for your request. Please refer  to the attached spreadsheet for the information requested.

Documents

FOI 1633 - Data Entry UK Fire Services Solar Panel Fire FOI
 Download