Roof fire in Hermagor: Cause in the dark, 80 firefighters in action!

Roof fire in Hermagor: Cause in the dark, 80 firefighters in action!

On March 23, 2025, a serious fire occurred in the Hermagor district when the roof of a company hall caught fire around 1:27 p.m. The reason for the fire has so far been unknown, but the investigators suspect that a photovoltaic module may have made the decisive factor. A total of around 8,000 photovoltaic modules are installed in the affected hall. The fire alarm system (BMA) of the hall reacted quickly to smoke development and informed the operators by smartphone.

A large number of fire departments were immediately alerted. The emergency services came from the towns of Kötschach-Mauthen, Laas, Würmlach, Weidenburg, St. Daniel, Dellach/Gail, Reisach and Hermagor. A total of around 80 firefighters with 11 vehicles were used to extinguish the fire and prevent the flames from spreading. After a little more than an hour, the firefighters managed to control and extinguish the fire. The amount of the damage is not yet quantified.

causes of fire and risks

The present Situation throws an important light on the safety of photovoltaic systems. The causes of fires in such systems are diverse and can have far -reaching consequences. Studies by TÜV Rheinland and Fraunhofer have documented the main causes of fires in photovoltaic systems. Solarenergie.de pointing out that electrical defects are responsible for around 50% of all causes of fire. Frequent triggers are incorrect cables, compounds and inverters that can lead to dangerous arcs of light.

Another significant factor is error in installation that significantly increase the fire risk. Invisely attached cables as well as inadequate grounding can have overheating and ultimately fires. Material errors, such as defects or inferior components in the modules or inverters, also play a role, with a share of around 15% of the causes of fire. Certified systems minimize this risk through stricter quality controls.

case studies and prevention measures

An example from Germany illustrates the need for professional installations and regular inspections. In a commercial building, a loose DC connector on a roof system led to a fire that was triggered by an arc. Such incidents prove the urgency to take both electrical defects and installation errors seriously.

The fires in photovoltaic systems are a serious problem that can not only interfere with operational processes, but can also lead to considerable financial damage. According to the report of the Bundestag on the security situation of photovoltaic systems, preventive measures are crucial to reduce the number of such incidents Bundesag.de .