Although natural hazards such as overvoltage power surges lightning may play a significant role wrongly sized and defective equipment can also be a big culprit behind the fire.
Dangers of solar panels and fire fighters.
Solar panels are everywhere from tiny squares powering roadside signs to rooftops shining with panels harvesting sunlight for electricity but they are presenting new challenges.
Solar panels may block key points and pathways that inspectors technicians and firefighters would otherwise use to mount.
Ventilation helps reduce heat prevents fires from spreading and increases visibility.
There can be numerous reasons for solar panels causing a house fire.
Unfortunately solar panels reduce the area available on the roof for vents.
A 2010 report by the fire protection research foundation found that slipping or tripping on solar panels were potential hazards for firefighters as well as the possibility of the roof collapse.
Pv modules may become slippery and pose a slip and fall risk to inspectors technicians and firefighters.
Much inaccurate information about pv and firefighter safety has been published on the internet recently even to the point of recommendations to let it burn if solar panels are spotted on a roof.
The panels themselves are also too fragile for firefighters to walk on nor would they support heavy equipment.