Summer heat and fire risks – are your PL customers ready?

17 Jun 2025

With the summer months around the corner and the UK on course to experience the warmest spring for a century¹, it’s a good point in time for your personal lines customers to consider the risks that fire can pose to their homes and gardens.

According to our data, as temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with fire. The warning from the Met Office coincides with new research into our claims data, which revealed that the number of fire-related claims has increased during warmer weather². Keep reading to learn some of the insights from our research, including guidance on how to prevent fire-related losses which, can be more prevalent at this time of year.

So far this year, April and May have seen a significantly higher level of fire claims that have started outside the home, overtaking every month in 2024. With higher-than-average levels of sunshine during these months³,the data suggests that an increase in people enjoying their gardens - from barbecuing to having bonfires - could, in part, explain the increase in claims.

In addition to the increase in warmer weather during this period, the data also shows that lightning claims - which can spark fires by striking roofs and loft spaces - have increased over the last five years. Further to this, September 2024 experienced three times as many lightning claims than in any other month that year².

Based on a Fire Safety Survey we commissioned in 2024, among 2,000 UK consumers also reveals that one in eight (12%) worry more about fire safety during hot weather and 13% worry more during barbecue season⁴.

Here’s some examples of fire claims taken from our data:²

Multiple fires started in nearby gardens, destroying fences and shed
Garden bonfires resulted in sheds, fences and decking being destroyed by fire
Embers from a barbecue landed on a shed, setting its contents ablaze
Ash from a fire pit set fire to a garage, despite being doused with water before disposing
Lightning caused electrical items to break or malfunction, leading to fires in the home

Smarter ways to prevent fire-related incidents

To support your personal lines customers in getting ready for the risks that warmer weather can bring, we’ve prepared some fire safety tips:

Think twice before lighting bonfires – encourage your customers to avoid garden bonfires which can quickly get out of control, especially during dry and windy conditions. If a bonfire is necessary, it should never be left unattended and water or a hose should be kept nearby. Fire pits should be fully extinguished before heading indoors and it’s also a good idea that they keep an eye on fires in neighbouring gardens, in case they spread.
Barbecue safety – remind customers to check the weather before lighting a barbecue, as windy conditions can spread embers and increase fire risk. Ash can remain hot for days, so it should be disposed of only once completely cool. Disposable barbecues should always be placed on non-flammable surfaces, away from grass, fences, or sheds and left to cool fully before disposal.
Battery charging awareness - overheating lithium-ion batteries can cause fires, so advise customers to always unplug chargers once tools are fully charged and don’t charge devices overnight or leave them unattended.
Windowsill watch - sunlight magnified through glass objects can start fires. Remind your customers to keep mirrors, bottles and other reflective items away from direct sunlight.
Safe disposal of cigarettes - cigarettes and matches can easily ignite dry grass or decking. They should always be extinguished fully and disposed of safely.

Hannah Davidson, Senior Underwriting Manager at Aviva, says: “Although warmer weather is often welcome news, we’re urging people to remain vigilant when it comes to fire safety. The warm weather, paired with a lack of rain, means that once started, a fire can spread very quickly – particularly as the ground is dry. Popular items in gardens, such as wooden fences and sheds, can be flammable, causing flames to spread quickly. A small fire in the garden can also spread to the home, causing significant damage.

“Whether it’s hosting friends for a barbecue, charging devices and tools outside or in the home or even hanging a mirror outside in your garden for decoration, it’s worth paying close attention to what could become a potential fire hazard. With the average fire claim involving a garden amounting to almost £16,000, it’s worth taking out home insurance if you haven’t already, giving you peace of mind knowing that your home and belongings are protected.”