Wildfires are becoming more common in the UK due to the unprecedented effects of climate change. According to the Met Office, hot summers are now happening more frequently. The agency also says the likelihood of seeing 40C days could be up to 10 times greater under current conditions compared to a climate unaffected by human actions.

Such regular high temperatures create tinderbox conditions for wildfires. In fact, there were more than 500 wildfire incidents in the first half of 2022 alone, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council. This figure is more than double the 237 wildfires recorded in 2021.

As climate change persists, the chances of a devastating wildfire affecting your property increase. Reduce your risk by preparing now to protect your family and home.

Preparing Your Home for a Wildfire

The following are actions you can take to help prevent wildfires and protect yourself, your family and your property.

• Design and landscape your home with wildfire safety in mind. Select materials and plants that can help contain fire rather than fuel it.
• Use fire-resistant or non-combustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of your house, or treat wood or combustible material used in roofs, cladding, decking or trim with fire-retardant chemicals.
• Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees. For example, hardwood trees are less flammable than pine, evergreen, eucalyptus or fir trees.
• Regularly clean your roof and gutters; remove any debris that could catch fire.
• Inspect your chimneys at least twice a year, and clean them at least once a year. If you have them, keep the dampers in good working order. Equip chimneys and flue pipes with a spark
• Install a dual-sensor smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms; test it every month and change the batteries at least once each year.
• Teach your family members how to use a fire extinguisher (ABC type), and show them where it’s kept.
• Keep household items available that can be used as fire tools, such as a rake, axe, handsaw or chain saw, bucket and shovel.
• Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant curtains.
• Move flammable items away from the house and outside of your defensible space, including woodpiles, lawn furniture, barbecue grills and tarp coverings.

It is recommended that you create a 10- to 30-metre safety zone around your home. Within this area, you can take steps to reduce potential exposure to flames and radiant heat. Homes built in pine forests should have a minimum safety zone of 30 metres. If your home sits on a steep slope, standard protective measures may not be enough. Contact your local fire department or Forestry England for additional information.

• Rake leaves, dead limbs and twigs. Clear all flammable vegetation. Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures.
• Thin a 5-metre space between tree crowns, and remove limbs within 5 metres of the ground.
• Remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
• Prune tree branches and shrubs within 5 metres of a flue outlet.
• Remove vines from the walls of the home.
• Mow grass regularly.
• Clear a 3-metre area around propane tanks and the barbecue. Place a screen over the grill, made of non-flammable material with mesh.
• Place stove, fireplace and grill ashes in a metal bucket and soak them in water for two days, then bury the cold ashes in mineral soil.
• Store petrol, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place the cans in a safe location
• Review your homeowner’s insurance policy and prepare or update a list of your home’s contents.

Hazards After Wildfires: Floods and Landslides

Large-scale wildfires dramatically alter the terrain and ground conditions and can cause a greater risk of flooding. Normally, vegetation absorbs rainfall, reducing runoff. However, wildfires leave the ground charred, barren and unable to absorb water, creating conditions ripe for flash flooding and mudflow, which can cause significant damage. These types of floods are often more severe than flooding from storms because debris and ash left from the fire can form mudflows. Mudflows can also be formed when rainwater picks up soil and sediment from the damaged ground. Flood risk remains significantly higher until vegetation is restored—up to five years after a wildfire.

If you would like to find out more information about your home or landlord insurance, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re happy to conduct an insurance review of your current policy and check if the policy meets your requirements.