Farm fires caused almost £4.8 million worth of damage in Wales last year, according to a new report which warns that devastating blazes continue to pose a major threat to rural communities.

The findings, released by NFU Mutual in its first Farm Fires Report, show the scale of the danger facing Welsh farms despite a 29 per cent drop in the overall cost of incidents. Across the UK, farm fires resulted in an estimated £102 million of losses in 2024.

Electrical faults, arson and lightning strikes were identified as the leading causes of fires. The insurer said that while the number of claims involving crops, buildings and farm equipment had fallen, the financial impact of each incident remains high and the emotional toll on farming families is often long-lasting.

Agricultural vehicle fires added a further £37 million to the UK total. While losses linked to combine harvesters fell sharply - down 52 per cent to an estimated £3.5 million - NFU Mutual warned against complacency, noting that hundreds of combines, tractors and balers are still destroyed every year alongside thousands of acres of valuable crops.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual’s Rural Affairs Specialist, said fire remained a “constant risk” to farming businesses more than a century after the insurer was founded by seven farmers worried about haystacks being set alight by passing steam trains.

“These fires not only endanger the lives of farmers, farm workers and their families, but can destroy months or years of hard work, with long lasting consequences for agricultural businesses, structurally and financially,” she said.

“Beyond the immediate damage, the emotional toll of a farm fire can be significant, as individuals come to terms with the trauma and the added strain on an already demanding job.

“Farm fires can also cause disruption to local communities, damaging essential infrastructure such as power lines and overhead cables, and causing road closures that interrupt vital services.”

NFU Mutual is calling for greater use of fire-suppression systems on high-risk machinery such as combine harvesters. The systems, already common in sectors like forestry, are designed to detect and extinguish small fires before they spread. The insurer offers discounts to policyholders who fit approved kits.

To reduce the risk of blazes, the report urges farmers to draw up detailed fire plans, keep machinery clean and well-maintained, ensure electrical systems are professionally inspected, and manage the risks of “hot work” such as welding. It also recommends having water bowsers available during hot weather and ensuring escape routes are kept clear.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) welcomed the report, warning that farm fires and wildfires often require “significant fire service resource” often for extended periods of time, and they put lives at risk.

Farmers are advised to call emergency services immediately if a blaze breaks out, evacuate safely, and only attempt to tackle a fire if it is safe to do so. Clear access for fire crews and accurate location information - using tools such as the what3words app - can also make a crucial difference.