Upgrade fire precautions ahead of harvest, insurer warns

Rural insurer NFU Mutual is issuing new fire prevention advice, including extra cleaning and maintenance, and combine fire suppression systems, after a blazing hot summer last year.

Combine fires reported to the insurer in 2022 cost over £7million, up from £2.9m the previous year, as long periods of dry weather combined with temperatures reaching more than 40ºC sparked ideal fire conditions. The overall cost of agricultural vehicle and machinery fires increased by 35% to £28.3million, the latest figures show.

Many farmers increased fire prevention measures, including fitting fire suppression systems to their combines, cleaning combines more regularly and avoiding harvesting in very hot weather.

On some farms, combine fires spread into fields, engulfing hectares of growing crops and putting nearby properties at risk. Farmers’ efforts to quickly use tractors to make fire breaks prevented some fires spreading.

However, these emergency measures can endanger lives, with at least three incidents where fast-spreading crop fires engulfed tractors cutting fire breaks, leaving drivers fleeing for their lives.

Following last year’s extreme harvesting weather conditions, NFU Mutual is recommending that farmers increase regular cleaning stops and consider a range of additional fire prevention measures to reduce fire risks in future very hot summers.

Following a testing programme on combine harvesters, NFU Mutual recommends P-Mark SPCR199 accredited fire suppression systems. The systems automatically trigger extinguishers if a small fire is detected in the machine. The insurer now offers premium discounts for farmers fitting recommended systems.

Craig Codling from NFU Mutual’s Agricultural Engineering Team said: “Last year’s very hot summer led to a large number of fires – despite farmers carrying out regular maintenance and chaff cleaning.

“To reduce fire risks in very hot, dry summers in the future we’ve worked with fire services and machinery manufacturers to issue new harvest fire prevention guidelines.

“Today’s combines are extremely large and complex, which means that a small fire caused by overheating or an electrical fault can very quickly turn into a blaze that engulfs the whole machine. There’s also a significant risk that the fire can spread into crops and then destroy other machinery and even nearby houses.

“The speed at which fire can spread through a dry crop is frightening. A number of farmers who tried to use their tractors and cultivation implements to cut a fire break to stop a crop blaze found this out when their machinery was engulfed by the flames and they had to run for their lives.

“Keeping people safe is always the first priority, and we urge farmers and their staff to only tackle a machinery fire while it is small and they can do so without putting themselves at risk.

“Combine fire suppressing systems are very good at putting out small fires safely and efficiently. We’ve tested modern ‘P Mark’ Rated suppressors and now recommend them to our policyholders.”