A fire broke out in Fitzwilliam College this morning (04/10) following a suspected electrical issue occurring with a solar panel.

Fire services were called to the College after staff noticed a “ploom of smoke” on the roof of the College’s auditorium.

Four fire engines were at the scene shortly after the fire broke out, with one utilising a fire hydrant on Storey’s Way.

College staff claimed that the fire had been caused by an issue with cables for the building’s solar panels.

The fire was put out quickly by emergency services, who stayed at the College for over an hour afterwards to ensure the site was safe.

The auditorium was built in 2004, designed to be a “state-of-the-art performance space and gallery”. The building has 250 seats and is regularly used to put on plays, shows, concerts, and lectures.

The fire did not affect any buildings housing students, and nobody was harmed or evacuated from the college during the fire.

This comes after the College’s Chapel, New Court Building, and Central Hall Building were awarded Grade II listing status by Historic England as buildings of “historical and architectural interest,” earlier this year.

A spokesperson for Fitzwilliam College told Varsity: “The Fire services attended Fitzwilliam College today, after a small electrical fire was identified on the exterior of the Auditorium roof. The fire was quickly extinguished and an investigation will now follow to determine the cause”.

“All procedures were followed and no one was harmed. A safety survey has been conducted and the Auditorium will be in operational use again from tomorrow morning,” they continued.