A family in Weston-super-Mare watched their newbuild home be destroyed by fire on 4 July 2026, in a blaze suspected to have been started by rooftop solar panels. The incident matters because it is reportedly the second similar solar-panel fire in the area within weeks, raising concerns about the safety of such installations on newbuild properties.

Tammi Atherton, 54, was inside with her 21-year-old son Ben when the fire alarm sounded; after finding no smoke, a neighbour banged on the door warning them their roof was ablaze. The pair fled barefoot with their dog Oakley at around 12.45pm as the roof collapsed in flames. Firefighters arrived within minutes, but the fire raged for four hours, requiring eight fire crews and four police cars. Daughter Molly, at her Bristol home with her father, learned of the fire in a phone call from her brother.