New UK claims data provides a stark reason to review machinery fire controls before the next busy period.
NFU Mutual’s Farm Fires Report 2026 estimates that fires involving growing crops, buildings and farm equipment reported to the insurer cost £118 million in 2025—18% more than in 2024. Agricultural vehicle fires, which it records separately, added an estimated £32 million.
Tractor fires accounted for £16.1 million of the vehicle figure. Telehandler and forklift fires cost £5.7 million, while combine harvester fires accounted for £4.8 million.
These are insurer claims estimates, not a count or value for every UK farm fire. They do not establish that every machine or region faces the same risk. They do show how quickly heat, dry debris, electrical faults and valuable equipment can combine into a serious operational loss.
The following seven checks translate the report and Health and Safety Executive guidance into a practical review for farms and contractors.
1. Give each machine a fire-risk profile
Start with the actual work. List the tractors, telehandlers, forklifts, balers, combines, loaders and generators that operate around dry crops, dust, straw, fuel or other combustible material.
For each machine, identify hot surfaces, electrical systems, hydraulic lines, batteries, fuel lines and areas where chaff or dirt collects. Note attachments and aftermarket equipment that alter airflow, wiring or access for cleaning.
Use the manufacturer’s instructions and maintenance schedule. A generic checklist cannot identify every model-specific inspection point, and a machine that has been modified needs its current configuration assessed—not the one shown in the original brochure.
2. Make cleaning a recorded task
The HSE identifies debris around engines and moving parts as a machinery-fire risk. NFU Mutual recommends cleaning engine bays, drivelines, turbochargers, exhaust systems and heat shielding regularly during peak work.
Set the frequency around conditions rather than relying only on a calendar. Dry, dusty work may require checks during the day as well as at the end of a shift.
Stop, isolate and secure the machine before cleaning. Follow the manufacturer’s method and avoid introducing water or compressed debris into parts that could be damaged. Record who completed the check and any defect found.
A clean surface also makes leaks, damaged insulation and loose components easier to spot.
3. Inspect heat shields, wiring and fluid systems
Missing covers over hot parts, damaged wiring and leaking fuel or hydraulic fluid need prompt attention. Do not accept a temporary repair simply because the machine is needed for one more day.
Check that heat shields and cowls are present and secure. Look for chafed cables, discoloured connectors, loose battery terminals, blown fuses, cracked hoses, wet areas and unfamiliar smells. Repeated fuse replacement or warning-light resets should trigger diagnosis, not become a routine.
Only competent people should repair the system concerned. Close the defect report only when the cause and corrective work have been recorded.
4. Control hot work and charging
Welding, cutting, grinding and battery charging introduce additional ignition risks. Move combustible material away, follow the site’s hot-work controls and maintain an appropriate watch after the job finishes.
Charging areas need suitable equipment, ventilation, cable management and protection from impact or weather. Follow the battery and charger manufacturers’ instructions, particularly after damage, overheating or water exposure.
Do not park a hot or suspect machine beside hay, straw, fuel, buildings or another high-value vehicle. Agree where defective equipment will be isolated while it awaits inspection.
5. Match firefighting equipment to the assessed risk
The HSE says emergency firefighting equipment should be provided where residual risks remain. NFU Mutual also recommends considering accredited suppression systems for high-risk machinery.
The correct equipment, location, inspection regime and training depend on the machinery and materials involved. Ask a competent fire-risk adviser, insurer and equipment supplier rather than selecting an extinguisher by size alone.
Make sure operators know the limits of the response. Raise the alarm, call the fire and rescue service and protect people first. Nobody should attempt to fight a developing fire, open a dangerous engine compartment or move livestock or machinery when doing so creates further risk.
6. Plan access, water and information for responders
A fire plan should work when smoke, darkness or a blocked route makes the normal entrance unusable.
Keep access routes, gates and turning areas suitable for emergency vehicles. Record the location of overhead lines, fuel, fertiliser, gas cylinders, batteries, water supplies, livestock and hazardous materials. Make the information available to the people who may meet the fire service.
NFU Mutual advises considering a filled, accessible water bowser. That should be agreed with the local fire and rescue service or fire-risk adviser: a bowser does not replace calling 999, and operators should not improvise firefighting beyond their training.
Include an exact address, grid reference or ///what3words location and nominate who will account for staff, visitors and contractors.
7. Rehearse the first five minutes and the next five days
Brief everyone who uses the machinery. They should know how to stop safely, isolate energy where appropriate, raise the alarm, move to the assembly point and report whether anybody is missing.
Run a short exercise without creating a real hazard. Check that a caller can describe the entrance, that gates open, emergency contacts are current and keys or site plans can be found.
Then test business continuity. Decide how essential livestock, irrigation, feeding or contracting work would continue after the loss of a key machine. Keep insurance details, serial numbers, photographs, finance records and dealer contacts away from the vehicle itself.
Keep the cab part of the inspection
Cab condition can support—or undermine—the wider routine. Keep controls, warning displays, vents and exits clear. Remove loose rubbish and investigate heat, odours or electrical behaviour that is not normal for the machine.
Seat protection can help contain everyday mud and wear, but it must suit the exact operator seat and must not obstruct belts, sensors, controls, adjustment, heating or ventilation. Farm Packs supplies heavy-duty covers for working machinery; compatibility and safe installation come before protecting the upholstery.
The £118 million figure is not a prediction for an individual farm. It is a prompt to make fire prevention visible: named machines, defined cleaning intervals, closed defects, suitable equipment and a response that has been practised before it is needed.
This article provides general information and does not replace a suitable fire-risk assessment, manufacturer instructions, insurer requirements, competent maintenance advice or guidance from the fire and rescue service.
Sources
NFU Mutual: Farm Fires Report 2026 — published 12 October 2026
Farmers Guide: Farm fire costs climb to £118m as dry conditions raise risk — 12 October 2026
Health and Safety Executive: Thermal hazards in agricultural machinery — updated 24 October 2024
