Fire near rooftop solar panels at house on Kelly Street near Greenwood Avenue in Arlington Heights (CARDINAL NEWS). YouTube Tips ⓘ
Police, firefighters and paramedics from Arlington Heights responded about 1;12 p.m. Monday afternoon to extinguish a house fire, possibly involving rooftop solar panels or the electricity distribution system at the house in the block of 1200 Kelly Street near Greenwood Avenue in Arlington Heights.
The Arlington Heights Police Department and the Arlington Heights Fire Department responded to a reported residential structure fire behind a medical office building at 1051 Rand Road at approximately 1:12 p.m., Monday, March 30, 2026. About the same time, a neighbor got the attention of the homeowner to tell him there was smoke coming from the roof area of the home.
Police were first to arrive in the area, and confirmed that there was a house fire in the block of 1200 Kelly Street in Arlington Heights.
First-arriving fire crews were on scene within five minutes and observed fire coming from the
second-story roof area, involving both the roof structure and installed solar panels. One occupant safely exited the residence prior to the arrival of emergency personnel, thanks to the notification from the neighbor.
Firefighters conducted an initial size-up and began an exterior fire attack utilizing a handline and the elevated master stream from Tower 1, which was parked at the front of the house in a cul-de-sac. Once the bulk of the fire was knocked down, crews transitioned to the interior of the home, and accessed the attic space, where they extinguished remaining hot spots using pressurized water extinguishers, also known as “pump cans”. Firefighters also confirmed there were safe levels of air quality inside the home after the release of combustion gases inside the home.
The fire incident response was held to a Code 3 “Reported Fire” and was not elevated to a Code 4 “Working Fire.”
Damage to the residence was limited primarily to the roof, which sustained a hole that was approximately two feet in diameter. The press release from the Arlington Heights Fire Department did not indicate whether the hole was from fire burning through the roof, or whether firefighters cut a ventilation hole in the roof. There was also minor water damage to the interior of the house. The home remains habitable, and the occupants are able to stay in the residence, according to Arlington Height Fire Department Fire Chief Lance Harris.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Arlington Heights Fire Department and Arlington Heights Police Department, according to Fire Chief Lance Harris.
According to the Department of Energy, solar panel rooftop fires are very uncommon. Design flaws, component defects, and faulty installation can cause a rooftop solar system to start a fire. As with all electrical systems, these problems can cause arcs between conductors or to the ground, as well as hot spots, which can ignite nearby flammable material. The National Electrical Code has established safety standards to address these concerns.
While PV or Photo Voltaic system solar panel systems, properly installed by qualified professionals must follow current safety codes, solar panel fires do occur, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
PV systems can pose several hazards during firefighting efforts, including the risk of electrical shock from live system components, especially due to electrical current flowing through water.
Additionally, firefighters are routinely trained to be aware that roof surfaces with PV modules can be slippery, increasing the risk of falls during firefighting operations.
Firefighters are also trained to prioritize safety when working near PV systems. The National Electric Code outlines the required minimum distances between live electrical parts and firefighting equipment to prevent electric shock.
Arlington Heights firefighters were able to keep their distance by using the elevated platform of Tower Ladder 1.
According to the Department of Energy, research is being used to develop new standards for PV hazard controls to protect firefighters, including the electrical resistance of personal protection equipment based on factors like physical body composition and the degree of moisture on the skin and, to avoid shock, electrical pathways that could be encountered.
According to the Department of Energy, most homeowners’ insurance policies cover rooftop solar panels, since the system is attached to your property and is therefore considered part of it. However, homeowners might need an additional or separate policy if solar panels are ground-mounted or installed on a carport. Homeowners need to check with insurance providers.
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