NFU Mutual highlights £102m UK farm fires bill and regional loss patterns

Farm fires cost UK £102m in 2024

NFU Mutual has reported that farm fires across the UK led to an estimated £102m in claims in 2024, despite an 18% fall in the number of incidents involving growing crops, buildings and farm equipment.

The insurer stated that agricultural vehicle fires added an estimated £37m to rural losses over the same period.

The company identified electrical faults, arson and lightning strikes as the leading causes of farm fires reported to its claims teams.

NFU Mutual explained that a cool and wet summer, together with farmers holding on to machinery for longer, likely contributed to lower replacement values and a reduction in combine harvester fire costs to an estimated £3.5m.

According to the insurer, combine harvester fire claims had reached an estimated £11m in 2022 and £7.4m in 2023, so the latest reduction does not remove the ongoing risk to crops and machinery.

NFU Mutual warned that each year hundreds of combines, tractors and balers are still lost to fire, alongside thousands of acres of crops.

Historical context and impact of farm fires

NFU Mutual’s Farm Fires report set the current figures against the organisation’s origins in early twentieth century fire loss.

Hannah Binns, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “Back in 1910, seven farmers became frustrated at the losses caused by sparks from the nearby steam-powered railway, which often set haystacks ablaze.

“This collective developed into NFU Mutual and more than a century on, fire remains a constant risk to UK farms, with dangerous and devasting farm fires becoming all too common.

“These fires not only endanger the lives of farmers, farm workers and their families, but can destroy months or years of hard work, with long lasting consequences for agricultural businesses, structurally and financially.

“Beyond the immediate damage, the emotional toll of a farm fire can be significant, as individuals come to terms with the trauma and the added strain on an already demanding job.

“Farm fires can also cause disruption to local communities, damaging essential infrastructure such as power lines and overhead cables, and causing road closures that interrupt vital services.”

Regional farm fires costs across the UK

NFU Mutual’s analysis showed varied trends in regional farm fire claims across the UK between 2023 and 2024.

The East recorded a broadly stable picture, with estimated claims moving from £9.51m to £9.52m, a change of 0.1%.

The Midlands saw a reduction in estimated costs from £12.7m to £10.6m, a fall of 16%.

The North East recorded an increase in estimated claims from £12.3m in 2023 to £16.4m in 2024, a rise of 34%.

In the North West, estimated costs moved from £28.9m to £4.3m, a reduction of 85%.

Northern Ireland recorded an estimated rise from £5.2m to £7.3m, an increase of 42%.

Scotland’s estimated farm fire costs moved from £5.9m to £11.8m, an increase of 98%.

The South East saw estimated claims rise from £9.4m to £12.9m, up 36%.

In the South West, NFU Mutual reported an increase from £20.2m to £24m, a rise of 20%.

Wales recorded an estimated decrease from £6.7m to £4.8m, a reduction of 29%.

Across the UK overall, estimated farm fire claim costs fell from £110.8m in 2023 to £102m in 2024, down 8%, with NFU Mutual noting that these figures do not include agricultural vehicle fire claims.

Suppression systems and machinery fire risk

NFU Mutual strongly recommended fitting fire suppression systems to high-risk agricultural machinery, particularly combine harvesters.

The insurer noted that suppression systems are widely used in sectors such as forestry and can prevent small fires from spreading and destroying entire machines.

According to the company, policyholders who operate combines fitted with approved fire suppression systems can access an insurance discount.

NFU Mutual added that keeping machinery clean and properly serviced remains an important control measure, especially during hot and dry periods when field work is most intensive.

Emergency response and NFCC support

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) was cited in the report in relation to the impact of farm fires and wildfires on fire and rescue services.

Dave Swallow, NFCC Wildfire Deputy Lead and Lead Tactical Advisor, said: “Farm fires and wildfires regularly require significant fire service resource, often for extended periods of time, and they put lives at risk.

“NFCC supports and welcomes the NFU Mutual’s push for suppression systems to be fitted in farm machinery, reducing the risk of fires developing into large and more damaging incidents.

“Furthermore, we have worked with industry to produce guidance for farmers during the harvesting period, following an increase in potential risk of fires during this year’s hot, dry summer.”

NFU Mutual farm fire prevention advice

NFU Mutual Risk Management Services (RMS) set out practical steps for reducing the likelihood and impact of farm fires.

RMS advised farmers to maintain a clear fire plan that prioritises safe evacuation for everyone on site, including people working in or living near farm buildings, with particular attention to vulnerable individuals.

The guidance stressed the need to keep electrical systems in good condition, to use qualified electricians for installation and inspection work, and to avoid do-it-yourself modifications that can be affected by damp, rodents or overloaded circuits.

RMS recommended installing fire suppression systems on equipment such as biomass boilers and combine harvesters, and positioning water bowsers in fields on hot days to provide an immediate water source.

The advice highlighted the role of good housekeeping in reducing dust, chaff and stored materials that can add to fire load, block escape routes or create trip hazards during an emergency.

RMS also urged farmers to control hot work such as welding, cutting or grinding by carrying it out outside where possible, or in clear internal areas away from combustible structures and materials, supported by a strict permit to work process for anyone carrying out such tasks.

Actions to take when a fire breaks out

NFU Mutual Risk Management Services set out steps for farmers to follow if a fire starts on site.

The guidance advised that the Fire and Rescue Service should be called immediately, that everyone should be alerted to the fire and evacuated to a safe location in line with the emergency plan, and that any attempt to tackle the fire should only be made if it is safe to do so using correctly maintained extinguishers.

RMS stated that farmers should be ready to move livestock if the fire spreads, but only where it is safe, and should prepare to use farm machinery to support Fire and Rescue Service operations when requested.

The advice emphasised the importance of helping emergency services reach the incident quickly by using tools such as the what3words app to identify the precise location, sending someone to meet the fire crew and ensuring that the farm entrance is clearly signed and kept clear for access.