Date of Request
July 23
Request
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Could you please supply me with the number of fires that have been attended relating to solar / photovoltaic panels from 2010 to date. I’d be grateful if you could break this down by year.
If you don’t have a specific recording category for these, a free text search would be much appreciated.
If this request is too wide or unclear, I would be grateful if you could contact me as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs if necessary.
If the release of any of this information is prohibited on the grounds of breach of confidence, I ask that you supply me with copies of the confidentiality agreement and remind you that information should not be treated as confidential if such an agreement has not been signed.
I understand that you are required to respond to my request within the 20 working days after you receive this letter. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing that you have received this request.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully
Response
Dear X,
Thank you for your request for incident information which has been received by Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (the Service) and considered under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.
The Service can confirm the requested incident information is held. The table below shows the data you requested.
|
Year |
Comments |
|
2014 |
1 Fire – Small electrical fire in solar panel control room (shed) |
|
2018 |
1 Fire – Included but unclear if it should be – Fire in fuse box caused by overheating fuse which was supplying solar panels |
|
2019 |
1 Fire – Fire in cellar involving Solis inverter for Solar panels. Believed to be cause as it was completely melted |
|
2021 |
1 Fire – Fire involving Solar Panel cables / electrical equipment |
The Service did attend other fires where Solar Panels were present, but they did not play a role in the fire so these have not been included in the above table. They appeared in the initial search as a free text box search was used and the solar panel electrics needed to be isolated from the rest of the house, but these incidents were then discounted.
If you have any questions regarding your request, please contact Information Governance and Committee Services on tel: 0345 122 4454 or by e-mail informationrequests@hwfire.org.uk In any such communication please include the reference number assigned (see above).
Should you have any queries regarding the management of your request and wish to make either a complaint or request a review of the information disclosed to you, please do so by using Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s complaints system: Comments and Complaints. This must be done within 40 working days of our response to your request. After this date and in line with ICO guidance the Service is not obliged to provide an internal review of your request.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you may appeal the decision by contacting the Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF, Tel: 0303 123 1113 (alternatively 01625 545745) or E-mail: casework@ico.org.uk
Further information on Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service may be viewed at the Service’s website: www.hwfire.org.uk
Thank you for your request for Information.
Kind regards,
Information Governance Team