Council knew of risk before school blaze

SOLAR PANELS THAT STARTED FIRE HAD KNOWN ISSUES

- By JAMES ROBINSON

OFFICIALS at Northumberland County Council and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service were aware of potential fire safety issues with solar panels over a year before a fire at a primary school.

More than 80 other schools have had their solar panels disconnected since the fire at Shanklea Primary School in Cramlington on July 5, along with a host of other public buildings.

Council sources told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the issue was widespread and that the local authority had been aware of the potential risk.

Responding to questions, the council confirmed the claims - but said that initially there was no requirement or recommendation for the solar panel systems to be isolated.

An inspection programme was launched in July 2024 after a fire at a Cramlington community centre the previous month. The work covered all buildings where PV panels had been installed prior to 2019.

Initially, council and fire service staff were working through those buildings carrying out fire safety checks.

However, the fire at the school two weeks ago forced the council to take further action.