Post-fire and long-term actions

Professional assessment: After the fire is extinguished and the area is safe, have a qualified and certified solar electrician inspect the entire system. They will need to identify the exact cause of the short circuit and fire.

Replace damaged components: Any melted, burnt, or damaged cables, connectors, and conduit must be completely replaced. The damage can extend for meters down the conduit, so a thorough inspection is critical.

Strengthen safety protocols:

Install monitoring: Modern SCBs and inverters can provide monitoring and fault detection to identify issues like arcing and short circuits early.

Improve cable management: Ensure all cables are properly secured, rated for solar use, and not susceptible to animal damage.

Ensure proper sealing: Verify that all conduits and electrical boxes are sealed to prevent water and debris from entering.

Conduct regular inspections: Implement a schedule for routine maintenance checks to inspect for loose connections, corrosion, or insulation damage.