Cost of farm fires increased by 37% to £110.3m last year

There was a 15% fall in the number of fire claims involving growing crops, buildings and farm equipment reported to NFU Mutual in 2023. However, the total cost of these fires rocketed 37% to an estimated £110.3m in 2023, compared to £80.4m in 2022. 

That rise could be down to larger-scale fires being reported to NFU Mutual last year compared to previous years, as well as rising values of replacement equipment, building materials and labour. 

The main causes of farm fire claims in 2023 were electrical faults, lightning strikes and arson attacks. 

The cost of agricultural vehicle fires, which are recorded separately by NFU Mutual, remained high at an estimated £37.7m in 2023, driven by a rise in the cost of tractor fire claims to £20.4m. 

However, lower summer temperatures, on top of industry calls for farmers to install fire suppression systems or similar, brought a welcome fall in the cost of combine harvester fires, from £11.1m in 2022 to an estimated £7.4m in 2023, the rural insurer said. 

READ MORE: Cambridgeshire: Tractor and trailer destroyed in fire 

READ MORE: Livestock killed and barns with machinery destroyed in farm fire 

Reduce the risks 

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: “A major fire is one of the most devastating things that can happen on a farm. As well as putting the lives of farmers and their families at risk, the impact of a fire can disrupt farm businesses for years. 

“A lot of farms today frequently have larger quantities of flammable straw and other crops often stored close to tractors and other high-value equipment, so doing everything possible to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out is so important.” 

Ms Binns added that a comprehensive farm fire prevention plan, covering buildings, managing livestock, maintenance and cleaning schedules for machinery, can all help minimise the risk of a blaze. A robust evacuation procedure can help save lives if a fire does break out. 

“Having good insurance in place with values kept up to date is also vital to cover the cost of new buildings, replacement equipment and lost stored crops. Keeping an income flowing into the farm following a fire is equally important, which is why business interruption insurance is an essential consideration,” she continued. 

Essential maintenance 

Louise Nicholls, agricultural vehicle specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “It is incredibly concerning that the cost of agricultural vehicle fires remained high last year despite the lack of extreme high temperatures. 

“It is important for all farmers to make sure that plant and vehicles are regularly maintained and checked for wear and damage, particularly to electrical parts and wiring. 

“For highly vulnerable kit, including combine harvesters, tractors and balers, rigorous attention to maintenance and cleaning is essential. We strongly recommend that farmers fit fire suppression kits to their combine harvesters.” 

The NFU Mutual expert explained that these systems are very effective in stopping small fires from spreading and engulfing the entire machine. NFU Mutual also operates a scheme providing premium discounts of up to 15% for approved suppressor systems. 

“We also provide pre-harvest training workshops for farms. Delivered on-farm by NFU Mutual Risk Management Services Limited, these sessions go through the key hazards that farm workers typically face during harvest season and offer ways fires and accidents can be prevented,” Ms Nicholls added. 

READ MORE: 1.5 tonnes of sugar pulp caught fire at British Sugar factory

READ MORE: 11 fire engines tackled barn fire in Derbyshire

Farm fire safety guide 

NFU Mutual has shared its risk management services farm fire safety guide: 

Have a plan in place – Put people at the heart of your fire plan and ensure everyone on site knows what to do in the event of a fire. The biggest priority in the event of a fire is to evacuate everyone safely, including people working in or living around the premises, taking special care to assist any vulnerable people.

Maintain your electrics – Electrical faults are a major cause of farm fires and electric shocks can cause death or severe injury. Don’t try and attempt electrical work yourself and always use a qualified and competent electrician for work and inspections. DIY modifications, poor environmental conditions (such as wet, damp or acidic atmospheres), rodents, overloaded sockets and simple wear and tear are common causes of electrical fires on farms.

Suppress the risk – Suppression systems play a critical role in detecting, containing and extinguishing fire. Whether you have a biomass boiler or a combine harvester, when working in hot, dry conditions, fire suppression systems can save lives and property.

Keep on top of your housekeeping – Good housekeeping is essential to ensure materials and machinery are stored correctly and helps to eliminate dust and debris. The build-up of waste and materials not only adds to the fuel that can burn in a fire but can block escape routes and cause trip hazards in an emergency.

Control hot work – Welding, cutting or grinding equipment, along with blowlamps and blow torches, produces sparks which can turn into fires if they hit combustible material. If work can’t be done outside, ensure you are in a clear, open area and far away from combustible materials (including combustible building structures). Anyone carrying out hot works on your farm should be subject to a strict ‘Permit to Work’ system.

If a fire breaks out

• Call the Fire and Rescue Service immediately
• Make sure everyone is made aware of the fire and evacuate people to a safe location as per your emergency plan
• Only attempt to fight the fire if it is safe to do so and using the correct and maintained extinguishers
• Prepare to evacuate livestock, but only if safe to do so, if the fire spreads
• Prepare to use farm machinery to assist the Fire and Rescue Service, but only on their instruction
• Ensure you can direct emergency services to the exact location of the fire e.g.  download the ‘what3words’ app which pinpoints specific 3m x 3m locations. Send someone to meet and direct the Fire and Rescue Service to the fire
• Ensure the farm entrance is clearly signed and access kept clear to allow Fire and Rescue Service access

Read more farm safety news.