Fire response services company Fire Ops SA reports a sharp increase in structural fires linked to solar-powered installations, with one-quarter of all structural fires it responds to linked to batteries, inverters and equipment tied to solar systems, says Fire Ops SA CEO and Deputy Fire Chief De Wet Engelbrecht. According to Statistics South Africa’s 2025 General Household Survey, around 675 000 homes have solar systems, which is an 86% increase in three years.
Fires at homes linked to solar generation increase to 25% of all cases – Fire Ops SA
8th September 2026
By: Schalk Burger
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor
Fire response services company Fire Ops SA reports a sharp increase in structural fires linked to solar-powered installations, with one-quarter of all structural fires it responds to linked to batteries, inverters and equipment tied to solar systems, says Fire Ops SA CEO and Deputy Fire Chief De Wet Engelbrecht.
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