Fire hazard of rooftop solar panels on shingle roof?

[DragonSunfire]

Hello, recently in my city in Canada, there was a shingle fire caused by a solar PV system. The system is owned by a solar power generation firm, maintained by a another engineering/maintenance firm and leases the roofspace on the homeowner's house for a 20 year term.

The fire department and Electrical Safety Authority have pointed to a potential rodent damage from chewing on wires, causing arcing. Another theory is the junction box was faulty on the panels which caused overheating and a fire.

Has anyone had experience with a fire or know of anyone who has had a fire caused by rooftop panels?

Here is the article from local media including pictures: http://m.mississauga.com/news-story/6386084--rodent-damage-sparked-solar-panel-fire-on-roof-of-mississauga-home

[Sunking]

There have been quite a few fires cause by solar panels. Stricter electrical codes come out each code cycle to deal with the problem.

[SunEagle]

Keeping rodents from chewing on wire has always been an issue throughout the electrical industry.

There are a few ways to keep rodents out from behind roof mounted solar panels, but it comes down to the physical instillation of the panels and what is approved by your local building codes.

[Sunking]

Tree Rats. Killed hundreds of them and they keep coming.

[SunEagle]

Tree Rats. Killed hundreds of them and they keep coming.

Cut down the trees then they will be ground rats.

[Sunking]

Cut down the trees then they will be ground rats.

We have some badass squirrels here in panama.



Seriously we have tons of squirrels down here but there is even a much bigger pest. Frickin Monkeys

[Mike90250]

.........Seriously we have tones of squirrels down here but there is even a much bigger pest. Frickin Monkeys

Apparently hunger is not an issue there

[Sunking]

Apparently hunger is not an issue there.

Not with respect to wildlife. Down here man is not at the top of the food chain and is on the menu of a couple of predators and reptiles.