Pensioner’s home gutted after its cash-saving solar panels ‘set fire to the roof’

A PENSIONER’S home has been devastated by fire after cash-saving solar panels on the roof reportedly ‘burst into flames’.

A neighbour broke into the elderly woman’s home in sleepy Warligham, Surrey, as fire raged through the end-of-terrace property.

The blaze was quickly brought under control but the roof collapsed and the first floor is very badly damaged.

The semi-detached house was empty at the time of the blaze but firefighters rescued three cats from inside.

An elderly neighbour, who is in a wheelchair, was also rescued from the adjoining house.

The woman hadn’t noticed the fire raging and didn’t answer the door when neighbours knocked to alert her to the danger.

Two ambulances, four fire engines and  fire service support vehicles dashed to the scene after the blaze was reported at 9.30am this morning.

Debbie Miles, who lives opposite, said a firefighter told her the fire started in solar panels on the roof.

“The panels caught fire and the roof has collapsed,” the child minder said. “It’s so lucky no-one was inside at the time.

“It was absolutely bellowing, but you couldn’t smell anything, it didn’t smell like fire.

“There were lots of flames. It’s very scary because you don’t think it’s going to happen near you.

“The firemen got here quite quickly so luckily it didn’t spread to the next-door house.

“One of our neighbours had to break in to the neighbour’s house to get her out. She was quite shaken up.

The ambulances were called for her but thank goodness everyone was ok.”

Pumps from Banstead, Croydon, Godstone and the aerial ladder platform from Leatherhead were this afternoon still at the scene.

A spokesman for Surrey Fire Service told The Sun Online the investigation into the exact cause of the blaze is still ongoing.

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