Roof structure of a pension near Calau is on fire: photovoltaic system defective!

Roof structure of a pension near Calau is on fire: photovoltaic system defective!

On July 2, 2025, a pension in Werchow near Calau was a dramatic incident that started with a fire alarm. Lr-online.de that smoke was initially reported and two people were first reported. Fortunately, these could quickly be found intact, and there were no personal injury. The fire brigade was quickly on hand, extinguished the fire and kept fire guard until the evening.

The first assumptions about the cause of the fire indicate a defect in the photovoltaic system (PV system) on the roof. Such fires are rare, but the WDR pointed out that there is a risk, especially with improper installation, cabling and errors. This illuminates the need for conscientious maintenance and regular safety tests of photovoltaic systems.

photovoltaic systems in focus

photovoltaic systems are very popular in Germany - over five million of these systems are currently in the company. As a study by TÜV Rheinland and the Fraunhofer Institute shows, the causes of fire are usually easy to understand. The majority of the fires (about 50 percent) are triggered by electrical defects, followed by installation errors (30 percent) and material errors (15 percent) solarenergie.de.

an arc, caused by defective cables or loose compounds, can easily lead to a fire. In this respect, it is crucial that both commercial and private operators of these systems pay attention to high -quality materials and correct installations.

challenges for the fire brigade

It becomes particularly dangerous for the fire brigade when a fire breaks out in a photovoltaic system. The WDR reports of special challenges: the modules continue to produce electricity, even if they are separated from the network. This increases the dangers for the emergency services, since if there is suspicion of a fire on a PV system, a quick but careful interaction is required.

The fire brigade may have to unscrew the panels in order to effectively combat the fire, which can increase the duration of use. It is therefore important to provide information about the PV system, such as the separation switch and other safety-relevant details to optimally support the fire brigade efforts.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the further investigation into the cause of the fire in Werchow progresses. What is certain, however, is that the necessary care in the installation and maintenance of such systems should be a top priority to prevent similar incidents.