Date of Request
26/08/2025
Request
Good afternoon,
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 questions below regarding solar panel fires.
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.
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- In 2024, how many solar panel fires involved solar panels in the following size ranges;
1. 10-30 m² (metres squared)
2. 31-100 m²
3. 101-250 m²
4. 251-1000 m²
5. Larger than 1000 m²
- In 2024, how many solar panel-related fires required activation of a fireman’s switch?
a. Of those not activated, how many were due to concerns about the risk of using water on an energised system?
- In 2024, during solar-panel fire incidents at properties with rooftop installations, how many times were firefighters unable to access the roof to suppress the fire?
- Where roof access was not possible, how many times was the reason recorded as one of the following:
i. Inadequate access to roof walkway
ii. Electrical hazard/live electrical risk
iii. Lack of suitable PPE (e.g., non-conductive protective clothing)
- In 2024, how many solar-panel related fires occurred where the panels were installed on roofing constructed with combustible materials (e.g. timber decking, bitumen felt, EPS/PUR insulation, or similar)?
1. If recorded, please specify the types of combustible roofing materials involved.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will be very happy to clarify what I am asking for and discuss the request.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.
Kind regards,
Response
Hi
We thank you for your request for information, which has been received by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Service) and considered under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000
The Service can confirm that the information that you have requested is partially held and can be found on the attached document.
If you have any questions regarding your request, please contact Information Governance and Committee Services on tel: 0345 122 4454 or by e-mail informationrequests@hwfire.org.uk. In any such communication please include the reference number assigned (see Subject).
Should you have any queries regarding the management of your request and wish to make either a complaint or request a review of the information disclosed to you, please do so by using Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s complaints system: Comments and Complaints. This must be done within 40 working days of our response to your request. After this date and in line with ICO guidance the Service is not obliged to provide an internal review of your request.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you may appeal the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF, Tel: 0303 123 1113 (alternatively 01625 545745) or E-mail: casework@ico.org.uk.
Further information on Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service may be viewed at the Service’s website: www.hwfire.org.uk
Thank you for your request for information.
Kind regards
Information Governance Team