Wildfires have become increasingly common in recent years as the UK experiences hotter, more extreme temperatures. With the potential to cause significant damage to property, it’s vital that homeowners take precautionary measures to mitigate the risk of loss.
Growing wildfire risk in the UK
The biggest source of wildfires in the UK is human activity, including leisure activities or deliberate acts. However, a hotter climate is increasing the risk and severity of wildfires.
The last five years have seen several wildfires across the UK. The most significant summer for fires came in 2022, when an intense summer heatwave led to a total of 983 wildfires being recorded (opens a new window) in England and Wales. More than 80 of these occurred across 18th and 19th July – the two hottest days of the year, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
As a result of higher-than-average temperatures, wildfires are starting earlier in the season and typically last longer. Furthermore, whereas wildfires were previously limited to primarily rural areas of the UK, they are increasingly occurring anywhere in the country – including the ‘rural urban interface’ (where vegetation meets the built environment).
Wildfires spanning multiple geographies and Local Resilience Forum boundaries create challenges around capacity and resilience for fire risk services to be able to adequately resource and respond in a timely manner.
The wildfire threat to properties
As the frequency and severity of wildfires rise, along with an ever-greater proximity to urban settlements, there is a growing threat of significant property damage, as well as evacuation and injury to residents.
One of the most notable fires of the 2022 season was the Wennington wildfire (opens a new window), which hit the village of Wennington, East London. The fire began in the early afternoon as temperatures exceeded 35 degrees, causing the back garden of one home to spontaneously combust. After spreading rapidly, the flames destroyed a total of 16 homes. Many residents had to be evacuated from their homes, with some reporting that their possessions were lost in the blaze.
The uptick in wildfires is also stretching local fire and rescue services, making it more challenging to adequately resource and to respond in a timely manner. This is giving wildfires more time to inflict damage.
This has significant implications for homeowners. The Wennington fire was one such example – at the time of the fire’s outbreak, local firefighters had already been called to other nearby fires.
Minimising wildfire risk to your home
As the frequency of wildfires continues to increase, it is important for homeowners to take mitigating steps to minimise the risk to their property.
Measures include:
Create a defensible space – Maintain a buffer zone of at least 10–30 metres around your home by clearing dry grass, dead leaves, and other flammable materials. Replace highly combustible shrubs and hedges with fire-resistant plants.
Use fire-resistant building materials – When building or renovating, opt for fire-resistant materials for roofs, cladding, and decking. Ember-resistant vents and double-glazed windows can also provide additional protection.
Maintain your property regularly – Identify places where dead leaves and vegetation can collect, such as gutters or under decking, and clear them regularly. Repair any loose or broken tiles to prevent embers entering your roof space. Keep lawns short, and trim back shrubs or trees that are close to or touching your home to prevent the spread of fire. Prune trees so that the lowest branches are a minimum of six feet above the ground.
Consider installing external sprinkler systems if you are in a high-risk area – These can dampen the area surrounding your house and offer a defence against the spread of fire. During hosepipe bans, consider using stored rainwater from water buts or wastewater.
Create an emergency plan – This should include a plan for evacuation in the event of a fire, and a list of essentials that the family would need. This may include medication, money, clothing, food, pets, mobile phones, essential documents, and valuables.
Check insurance coverage – Ensure your home insurance policy covers fire and wildfire damage. Some policies may require specific provisions in high-risk areas.
For more information, reach out to a member of our team.
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