A family watched their newbuild home engulfed in flames on July 4, a blaze suspected to have originated from solar panels installed on the roof. Tammi Atherton, 54, and her son Ben, 21, were inside the Weston-Super-Mare property when a fire alarm sounded shortly before 1 p.m. After a brief check revealed no immediate signs of smoke, a neighbor alerted them that the roof was on fire.
Mother and son evacuated the home with their dog, Oakley, as the fire rapidly spread, engulfing the roof. Eight fire crews and four police cars responded to the incident, battling the blaze for four hours. The fire destroyed the roof, rendering the property structurally unsafe and uninhabitable.
The home, part of an estate built two years ago by housing association Curo Group, had solar panels fitted. Curo Group has launched two investigations into the fire and has advised all residents on the estate with solar panels to turn them off as a precautionary measure. The company stated that while they are supporting the affected family, they initially indicated their inability to assist directly as the homeowner owned the property.
"We understand the concerns that residents will have and want to reassure them there's nothing to indicate this is anything more than an isolated incident," Curo Group said in a statement to the Daily Mail. "We're continuing to manage the situation closely and ask any Curo customers in the neighbourhood who need support or advice to please get in touch."
Avon and Somerset Fire and Rescue confirmed they were called to reports of a fire involving solar panels on a residential home. They extinguished the fire using jets, and the cause is believed to be accidental. No injuries were reported.
This incident follows a similar event in May, where solar panels on a newbuild home in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, exploded and caught fire while a family was inside. In that case, an off-duty firefighter assisted in the rescue of three adults and one child before five fire crews arrived to control the blaze. The temperature had reportedly reached 22C (71.6F) at the time of that incident.
A GoFundMe page has been established to support Tammi Atherton, who is working on long-term plans following the fire. The fundraising effort has exceeded its initial goal, raising over £1,750.
