November 25, 2024 - 295 views
Farm fires were larger-scale and costlier in nature last year, new figures from NFU Mutual reveal, sparking calls for farmers to review and update fire prevention measures.
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
“These systems are very effective in stopping small fires spreading and engulfing the entire machine. NFU Mutual operates a scheme providing premium discounts for 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.”
