Do farms need a fire risk assessment?

Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires any person responsible for a non-domestic premises to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment. This applies to farm buildings including stores, workshops, livestock buildings and any building where people work or visit. The duty falls on the employer or, where there is no employer, the person in control of the premises. For farms with five or more employees, the fire risk assessment must be in writing.

What are the most common causes of farm fires?

The most common causes of UK farm fires are: arson (the leading cause of farm building fires by number), self-combustion in damp hay and straw bales, combine harvester fires during harvest (from crop debris on hot engine components or hydraulic failures), grain drier fires, electrical faults in farm buildings and vehicles, and hot works (welding and cutting sparks igniting nearby combustible materials). The NFU estimates farm fires cost UK agriculture £50-100 million annually.

What fire extinguisher should I have on a combine harvester?

A combine harvester should carry a 9-litre dry powder extinguisher (blue label) as a minimum — dry powder is effective on the most likely combine fire scenarios including electrical faults, hydraulic fluid fires and crop material fires. Some operators also carry a CO₂ extinguisher for electrical fires. The extinguisher should be mounted in the cab, in-date, and the operator should know how to use it. A hose reel or water bowser in the adjacent field provides additional resource for larger fires.

How often should farm fire risk assessments be reviewed?

Fire risk assessments should be reviewed annually and whenever significant changes occur — new buildings, new activities, new machinery, changes in farm layout or personnel. They must also be reviewed following any fire incident or near miss. The review date should be recorded on the assessment document.

What is the safe moisture content for baling hay to prevent self-combustion?

Hay should be baled at below 20% dry matter moisture content to prevent self-heating. Above 25% moisture there is significant self-combustion risk, and above 30% moisture the risk is very high. Small square bales are more tolerant of slightly higher moisture than large round or rectangular bales because heat dissipates more easily. Monitor bale temperature using a long probe thermometer for the first six weeks after baling — if temperature exceeds 70°C the bales need ventilating urgently. Above 80°C fire is likely.

Farm Management & Compliance

Farm Fire Risk Assessment — A Complete Guide for UK Farmers

The six-section fire risk assessment format applied to farm buildings and activities — hay and straw stores, combine harvesters, grain driers, workshops and livestock buildings. Includes extinguisher guide, blank template and legal requirements.

Published 20 May 2026 · 12 min read

Farm fire in the UK — the scale of the problem

£50–100m

Annual cost of UK farm fires (NFU estimate)

~1,000

Farm fires attended by fire services in England annually

No.1

Arson is the leading cause of UK farm building fires

Seconds

Time for a straw store fire to become uncontrollable

Farm fires are disproportionately costly and fast-spreading compared to commercial premises fires. A straw store can be fully involved in under two minutes. A combine harvester fire during harvest, with no water supply in the field, can be lost entirely. Unlike most commercial buildings, many farm structures are open-fronted, have no sprinkler systems, and are far from the nearest fire station.

A fire risk assessment will not prevent a fire caused by arson or a freak electrical fault. But it will ensure you have done everything reasonably practicable to reduce ignition risks, that combustibles are managed sensibly, that people can escape safely, and that you have the right firefighting equipment in the right places.

Legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The RRO 2005 requires the responsible person for any non-domestic premises to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and implement appropriate fire safety measures. This applies to all farm buildings where people work, visit or are present. For farms with five or more employees the assessment must be in writing. Failure to comply is a criminal offence — the fire service can issue enforcement and prohibition notices and prosecute.

Highest-Risk Locations on a UK Farm

Click each location to see ignition sources and specific control measures. Your fire risk assessment must address each high-risk location on your holding separately.

The Six-Section Fire Risk Assessment Format

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order requires a "suitable and sufficient" fire risk assessment. The six-section format below is widely used and accepted by fire services. Work through each section for every building or area on the farm.

Fire Extinguisher Guide — Which Type Where?

Using the wrong extinguisher on a fire can make it worse — never use water on a electrical or liquid fuel fire. Ensure you have the right type at each location.

Type	Suitable for	NOT suitable for	Farm use
Water (Red)	Solid materials — wood, paper, straw, hay, textiles	Electrical equipment, flammable liquids, cooking oils	Hay and straw stores, general farm buildings
Foam (Cream)	Solid materials and flammable liquids (petrol, diesel, oils)	Electrical equipment	Fuel stores, general farm buildings with fuel nearby
CO₂ (Black)	Electrical equipment, flammable liquids	Solid materials — limited cooling effect	Workshop, office, grain drier electrical panels
Dry Powder (Blue)	Most fire types including electrical and flammable liquids	Leaves residue — can damage machinery and food products	Vehicle cabs, general farm use, LPG and fuel areas
Wet Chemical (Yellow)	Cooking oils and fats	Not for general farm use	Farm kitchen or welfare facility

All extinguishers must be serviced annually by a competent person. Check the service label before each use. The safe distance for a dry powder extinguisher on a vehicle is 1 metre — do not use indoors without adequate ventilation as powder can obscure vision and irritate airways.

Hay bale self-combustion — a silent and deadly risk

Freshly baled hay above 20% moisture can begin generating heat through microbial activity within days. The temperature can rise slowly over weeks before flames appear — and because the heat builds from the inside, there may be no visible warning. Multiple farm store fires each year are caused by bales that appeared dry on the surface but were wet inside.

Safe moisture levels

•Below 20% DM — safe for storage
•20–25% DM — monitor closely
•25–30% DM — elevated risk, ventilate
•Above 30% DM — do not store

Temperature action thresholds

•Below 50°C — normal, continue monitoring
•50–70°C — elevated, increase ventilation
•70–80°C — serious, contact fire service
•Above 80°C — fire risk imminent, call 999

How to monitor

•Long probe thermometer inserted into bale
•Measure daily for first 6 weeks
•Multiple locations across the stack
•Keep a temperature log

What to do if temperature is high

•Do not open the bale — oxygen feeds combustion
•Contact fire service for advice
•Consider moving bales to open ground
•Never store suspect bales against buildings

Blank Farm Fire Risk Assessment Template

Complete one assessment per building or area on the farm. Use the findings from the six-section checklist above to complete each section. A separate FRA is needed for each distinct building or area — one document covering the whole farm is unlikely to be "suitable and sufficient".

In the event of a farm fire — call 999 immediately

Never delay calling the fire service to attempt to fight a fire yourself. Farm fires spread extremely rapidly — a straw store can be fully involved within two minutes. Give your farm address and postcode clearly. Open gates for emergency vehicle access. Account for all persons at the assembly point. Do not re-enter burning buildings. Do not put yourself at risk to save property or animals.

Useful Resources

NFU Mutual Farm Fire Safety

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Farm fire prevention guidance from the UK's largest agricultural insurer — includes guidance on hay storage, harvest and building security.

CFOA Farm Fire Safety

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Chief Fire Officers Association fire safety guidance for rural properties.

HSE Fire Safety in Agriculture

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HSE guidance on fire safety in agricultural settings.

Local fire service farm visit

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Many fire services offer free fire safety visits to farm businesses. Contact your local fire and rescue service to request a visit.

Complete your farm compliance picture

Fire risk assessment is one part of a complete farm safety and compliance system.

Health & Safety Policy COSHH Guide RAMS Guide Environmental Risk Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

Health & Safety Policy Guide COSHH on a Farm RAMS Guide Environmental Risk Assessment Environmental Policy Guide HACCP Guide

Guidance only. This guide provides an introduction to farm fire risk assessment. It does not constitute professional fire safety advice. For large or complex farm holdings, or where fire risk is significant, engage a qualified fire safety professional. Your local fire and rescue service can provide free advisory visits. AgriOps accepts no liability for decisions made using this guide.