A photovoltaic power generator with safety shutdown system includes a plurality of solar panel strings, a combiner, and a plurality of solar safety switches electrically disposed between a plurality of DC outputs of the plurality of solar panels strings and a plurality of DC inputs of the combiner. Each solar safety switch is associated with one of the solar panel strings and includes a solid-state device and a close actuator. The solid-state device of each solar safety switch is connected between the positive and negative terminals of the DC output of its associated solar panel string. The close actuator in each solar safety switch controls whether its associated solid-state device is turned on or is turned off. During normal operating conditions, the close actuators prevent their respective solid-state devices from turning on. However, in the event of a fire, the close actuators cause their associated solid-state devices to turn on, thereby effectively short-circuiting the DC outputs of their associated solar panel strings and preventing the solar panel strings from producing high voltages.