Fire crews from Ryde and Sandown responded to a smoking solar panel on the roof of a bungalow in Bembridge this morning (Tuesday).
It was just before 10:40 that Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service mobilised 2 appliances and an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) to Meadow End, off Meadow Drive.
It had been reported to fire control that smoke was issuing from a photovoltaic solar panel attached to a residential property.
Firefighters used ladders to gain access to a flat roof and then utilised a special extinguisher called PVSTOP – which is carried on the ALP – to bring the situation under control.
PVSTOP is a specialised fire safety product to neutralise solar panels. It works by blocking sunlight and therefore ‘switching off’ the solar panels, making them electrically safe.
Fire crews have since stood down from the incident.
