Wildfires are uncontrolled vegetation fires which may involve moorland, heath, grassland or agricultural land but in recent history the spread of these fires have impacted nearby homes too.

Whether you live rurally or on the edge of an urban environment your home could be at risk of fire from a Wildfire.

To keep safe we recommend your follow our safety tips below, this will help protect your home and your garden.

Protecting your home

• repair/replace loose or broken tiles to prevent embers entering your roof space
• move flammable material away from external house walls
• ensure your house number is clearly visible from the road
• avoid parking on or near fire hydrants

Protecting your garden

• Trim back vegetation, trees and shrubs that are close to or touching your home
• Screen areas below patios and decks with wire mesh to stop debris collecting
• During hot, dry spells ensure your garden is well watered
• Think about the positioning of garden sheds
• Take care when having barbecues or bonfires

Create an Evacuation Plan

Consider essentials you would need if you have to leave your property, including items like

• medication
• money
• clothing
• food
• valuables
• pets

Why is it important?

The picture above is from the Wennington wildfire which took place in Wennington, east London, on 19 July 2022 during the 2022 United Kingdom heatwave.

No-one was killed, but the wildfire destroyed about 18–19 houses, including all the possessions of many residents.

If you are concerned about wildfires near your property please use the advice and guidance on this page to keep yourself safe, for everything else we recommend you complete an Online Home Fire Safety Check.