One in four structural fires in South Africa is related to malfunctioning solar power systems, according to new response data from Fire Force, a partnership between Discovery Insure and Fire Ops SA.

Fire Ops SA CEO and deputy fire chief De Wet Engelbrecht said the company has observed a sharp increase in solar-related structural fires.

“A quarter of all structural fires we respond to are linked to solar systems,” Engelbrecht said. He highlighted that different parts of these systems could cause fires for various reasons.

These included ageing or faulty batteries, inverter faults, loose or deteriorating wiring and electrical connections, and poor installation.

The risk of lithium-ion battery fires increases as they age, necessitating replacement. These fires require very specific protocols for extinguishing due to a self-sustaining rise in temperature.

“Thermal runaway can cause intense heat, toxic gases, and the potential for fire to reignite even after it appears to have been contained,” Engelbrecht said.

Engelbrecht discouraged homeowners from attempting to manage a lithium-ion battery fire themselves. Instead, they should rely on specialist knowledge and equipment.

“The priority should be getting to safety and getting professional help as quickly as possible. The first 15 to 20 minutes are critical,” Engelbrecht said.

“They can determine whether a fire is contained or spreads into other parts of the home, including the roof, where additional combustible materials can cause the fire to escalate rapidly.”

Discovery Insure’s technical marketing head, Saqib Hossain, said that solar systems were not something to install and forget.

Statistics South Africa’s 2025 General Household Survey found around 675,000 homes had a solar system, an increase of 86% from three years earlier.

“Many of these were installed at the height of loadshedding, and as these systems age, components need to be maintained and replaced where necessary to reduce fire risk,” Hossain said.

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