Farm fire safety: A guide

Every year fires cause devastation for farms and agricultural businesses in the UK. From electrical faults and arson attacks to the rapid increase of dry summer related grass fires, farmers have been met with increasing challenges in recent times. With the cost of farm fires totalling £95.6 million in 2021 (a rise of 1.7%), insurers are urging farmers to be extra prepared, with farm fire risk assessments, routine maintenance and inspection, and control plans in place. 

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets out all farm fire safety requirements required in the UK. Here, we’ll cover these rules, focusing on what those in the agriculture sector can do to comply with them, precautions to have in place, and who’s responsible for them. We’ll also advise on the farm fire fighting equipment you need to help you stay safe and compliant with legislation.

Fire safety regulations in agriculture

Virtually all premises are required by law to adhere to the 2005 order. Within agriculture, this applies to (but is not limited to) all farm buildings where people work, including livery yards, packing sheds, milking parlours, barns, equine and other animal establishments, holiday lets, and farm houses providing bed and breakfast.

Electrical faults were the cause of most farm fires in 2021, while damage from arson attacks cost £8.4m in the same year. Last summer’s dry heat wave also brought an increase in harvest-related fires with it, with some areas of southern England having their Fire Severity Index risk raised to ‘exceptional’ – the Met Office’s highest risk level.

To avoid these risks to life and livelihood, agriculture businesses and premises must strictly follow Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 regulations. These include: 

• Completing regular farm fire risk assessments.
• Identifying any potential risks, including individuals who may be especially at risk.
• Reducing or eliminating these risks as far as is reasonably possible by putting appropriate farm fire safety measures in place.
• Regularly reviewing these risks.
• Ensuring everyone at a farm or agricultural premises knows what to do if a blaze breaks out.
• Taking protective measures to maintain, use and store farm equipment, hay, fuel, and other hazardous materials.
• Maintaining these measures.
• Planning for emergencies – including evacuation plans for people and animals – and reviewing these plans when necessary.
• Providing staff training, information and instructions on fire safety in an agricultural setting.

Who’s responsible for fire safety in agriculture?

Under the 2005 order, the ‘responsible person’ for fire safety can be anyone with control of premises, or specific areas/systems within a business. One or more people may be responsible, depending on the agriculture business or premises. For example, the landlord or owner of a farmhouse Airbnb might be responsible for overseeing fire safety in the hospitality premises, while another person is responsible for animal premises and stables. A responsible person may also be a building manager, managing agent, risk assessor, or other occupier of a premises. 

If there’s more than one responsible person, communication is vital in order to get the whole team confident about fire safety plans and fire prevention. Helpful exercises include writing joint procedures, creating a farm fire risk assessment template that can be reviewed and updated regularly, and holding regular meetings between responsible persons.

How can responsible person(s) meet farm fire safety regulations?

The person responsible for fire safety in agricultural venues needs to be rigorous in ensuring farm fire safety regulations are met. Failure to adhere to regulations could result in damage to property, injury or loss of life, and legal repercussions including unlimited fines and time in prison.

While some premises may be subject to provisions of other licences or registrations (for example, the Riding Establishments Act 1964, amended 1970), a designated fire risk assessment still needs to be conducted.

We’ve outlined the main regulations to meet the order above. Here are some practical steps to help you meet them:

1. Identify hazards at your agriculture premises

   Regular cleaning, maintenance and inspections are essential to save lives and prevent loss of livestock, machinery, hay and straw stores, and buildings. The main fire hazards for agriculture venues are arson, electrical faults, machinery, as well as flammable materials such as hay, straw, oil, grease, fuels, and substances such as fertilisers, poisons, and other chemicals. If welding or grinding (hot works) take place in a premises, it can only take one spark to land on these materials and start a devastating fire on farmland. 

   Farmhouses with kitchens are also at risk from fires caused by cooking oils and fats. These types of fuel can explode in reaction with liquids, Known as ‘Class F’ fires, these can explode in reaction with liquids, so require very specific solutions to put out, such as the MultiCHEM fire extinguisher. Risks can also occur from other human-led sources, such as discarded cigarettes, open fires, barbecues, and matches.

2. Identify people and animals at risk
   

   Agriculture venues are not only places of work – for some, they’re also family homes. Many cover a lot of land, meaning team members and visitors can be in several different places at once – making fire safety communication more difficult. If a farm premises is also a hotel or restaurant, it’s especially vital to identify people who may need help escaping in the event of a fire. These include the elderly and disabled people, those with children or babies, as well as people working alone or in isolated spaces such as stables or barns, or those working closeby to fire dangers such as straw reserves.

3. Evaluate, remove or reduce risks

   From hay and straw storage to clear signposting around the farm, taking practical steps can reduce or remove fire risks – including arson. These include:

   – Removing or reducing fire hazards
   There are precautions you can take to reduce the risk of a farm fire starting. Hay, straw, and other flammable materials should be removed from fields as soon as possible after harvesting, then stored away from other buildings, fuels, agrochemicals, machinery, and sources of ignition. If stacks are a reasonable size, space them at least 10 metres apart – keeping them away from underground gas pipes, water mains, and fire hydrants, as well as overhead power lines. Never store flammable materials near livestock, dispose of rubbish safely and regularly (including slurry and other animal waste), and do not allow smoking near stacks and other fire hazards.

   – Prevent arson in advance
   Deliberate arson is one of the leading causes of farm fires. In addition to removing or reducing the fire hazards above, survey your agricultural property as part of your fire risk assessment, making sure that gates and fencing are secure, sheds and buildings are locked, with fuels, pesticides, fertilisers, and other chemicals locked away. Adding security notices and security alarms can also help deter arsonists.

   – Installing fire alarms and smoke detectors
   Detecting a fire as quickly as possible is vital in agriculture premises. Fire alarms and smoke detectors should be installed, maintained and tested to ensure everyone from farmers to guests to staff to anyone visiting farm buildings has the best chance of dealing with the fire or escaping. 

   – Preparing fire-fighting equipment, lighting and fire safety signage
   Reduce or remove risks with legally compliant farm fire extinguishers and emergency lighting that operates when needed. Make sure the entrance to the farm is clearly signposted, with fire exit and safety signs clearly marked and looked after throughout the premises.

   – Planning escape routes and installing fire exit doors
   The isolated locations of farms can mean there is a higher risk of fires getting out of control. To keep everyone and everything as safe as possible before fire services arrive, make sure there are no obstructions to fire exits and escape routes. Proper emergency routes, clear doorways, and fire safety signs are vital for guiding people out of a premises and around the farm safely. Also check for damaged fire doors and broken smoke seals, which can prevent people from escaping.

4. Record, plan, and communicate fire risks 

   Early fire risk assessments and precautions can save lives and serious damage to livelihoods – and everyone on an agriculture premises needs to be aware of this. From farm workers to warehouse managers, visitors to volunteers, anyone involved in the agricultural facility should receive fire risk training and be fully informed on escape plans in the event of a fire.

5. Review fire risks regularly

   With increasing farm fire risks, ensuring fire risk assessments are up-to-date is crucial. Whenever a significant change occurs within the business or premises, so does the level of risk in the premises. For example, if a farm manager buys new supplies that are highly flammable, there should be a review to train staff on handling, managing, and safely storing the new materials. 

What happens if farm fire management plans don’t meet regulations?

An inadequate fire safety plan puts people, animals, and premises at risk – the penalties for flouting regulations are serious. A responsible person will be prosecuted as an individual, not as a company, facing expensive fines and even potential imprisonment for not complying with measures required.

Farm fire safety is not just a legal obligation – it saves lives and money and should be part of every farm’s business plan. At Checkfire, we’ve supported the fire trade for almost half a century – that includes helping the agriculture industry adhere to fire safety regulations.

For more comprehensive guides and expert advice on fire safety, visit our resource centre. To stay up to date on fire safety news, sign up to our newsletter.