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A solar panel safety device designed to protect firefighters from electric shock is behind an alarming increase in rooftop blazes, with incidents jumping more than 500 per cent in the past three years while the rate of safety inspections has decreased.
Fire and Rescue NSW data shows firefighters attended 139 solar panel fires last year, compared to 22 in 2018 and 56 in 2019. There have already been 18 fires to January 26 this year.
The rise in rooftop fires comes as the rate of safety inspections declines.
Credit:Fire and Rescue NSW
The national watchdog and firefighters are attributing the majority of incidents to direct current (DC) isolator switches â designed to isolate the solar panels from the rest of the house â with the federal Clean Energy Regulator proposing to make the mandatory devices voluntary later this year.