A BUNGALOW in West Somerset was badly damaged by fire when solar panel equipment caught alight on Monday afternoon (April 28).

Emergency calls were made shortly before 3pm when smoke was spotted coming from the roof of the property, in The Ball.

Three firefighting crews were mobilised from the Minehead and Williton stations and they quickly identified the fire involved domestic lithium batteries and solar panel cables in a utility room cupboard.

They set to work with two sets of breathing apparatus and a carbon dioxide extinguisher and after about 30 minutes requested an aerial ladder platform from Taunton to help them manoeuvre above the blaze.

Three-quarters of the utility room was damaged and much of the rest of the bungalow suffered smoke damage.