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New figures have revealed that solar panel fire have reached an eight year high for Dorset’s fire service.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 12 incidents involving solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in 2025, up from five the previous year and marking the highest annual total since at least 2018.
Of the 12 incidents last year, seven took place at domestic properties, two at industrial sites, two at commercial premises, and one at a solar farm.
Despite the rise in incidents, solar panel-related fires remain relatively rare.
A spokesperson for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the drive towards net zero emissions and the use of alternative and renewable energy sources inevitably comes with “some challenges”.
However, the fire service said that increased reports of fires involving solar PV installations “must be considered in light of the significant increase in the number of installations”.
In comparison, the service attended two incidents in 2018, three in both 2019 and 2020, five in 2021, two in 2022, four in 2023, and five in 2024.
The figures were revealed through a Freedom of Information request and highlighted by the Energy Incident Register, which tracks incidents involving renewable energy and electricity infrastructure.
The register notes that where a specific cause was identified, fires were more often linked to electrical components such as inverters, cabling, isolators, and fuse boards rather than the solar panels themselves.
A separate FOI response identified 11 solar panel-related fires in 2025, with the discrepancy attributed to a different search of incident records.
The fire service stressed the importance of proper installation and ongoing maintenance.
The spokesperson said: “Solar PV systems are an increasingly common feature on homes and businesses, and, as with any electrical installation, it is important that they are correctly maintained and used safely.
“Our advice to homeowners and businesses is to ensure solar PV systems, and any associated batteries, are installed by a competent, appropriately qualified installer and in accordance with relevant standards and manufacturers’ instructions.
“It is important to remember that good quality components are an essential part of any safe system or installation.”
Businesses are advised to include solar installations in their fire risk assessments, while residents in multi-occupied buildings should consult building managers before installing plug-in solar PV systems.
The editor of the Energy Incident Register said: “Fires involving solar panels are still rare, but the service’s records show them rising as installations grow.
“Where a part is named it is usually the electrics, the inverter, the isolator or the cabling, and those are the parts that inspection and maintenance can check.”
Incidents recorded in Dorset include a roof-space fire involving a solar inverter in Ferndown in 2023 and a fire at a Travelodge in Poole in 2024.
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