{"id":1156,"date":"2025-06-01T23:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-01T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/?p=1156"},"modified":"2025-06-02T10:03:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T10:03:35","slug":"insurer-warns-uk-homeowners-as-house-fire-claims-spike-in-hot-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/01\/insurer-warns-uk-homeowners-as-house-fire-claims-spike-in-hot-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"Insurer warns UK homeowners as house fire claims spike in hot weather"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_253928597-fc8d.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23300931\" alt=\"Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jeppe Gustafsson\/REX\/Shutterstock (14612664a) Glowing barbecue charcoal in a grill during a summer day. Barbecue charcoal, Motala, Sweden - 30 Jul 2024\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Barbecue weather can also be house fire weather (Picture: Rex)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"metro-article-audio-player\" data-vars-type=\"article-audio-player\">\n<div class=\"metro-article-audio-player-play-row\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"metro-article-audio-player-play-button\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<title>Listen to article<\/title>\t\t\t\t\t<span>Listen to article<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-container\"><img class=\"sponsor-image\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/metro\/includes\/site-blocks\/article-audio\/assets\/powered-by.png\" alt=\"Powered by\" data-rewritten=\"false\" \/><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"audio-controls hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t<audio class=\"audio-element\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ElevenLabs_2025-06-01T16_10_58_Axell-British-YouTube-Personality-_pvc_sp100_s50_sb75_se30_q50_b_m2-5a90.mp3\" controls id=\"audio-683d76f5ce526\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\tYour browser does not support the audio element.<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/audio>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Sunny <a data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/weather\/\">weather<\/a> so far this year has led to a spike in home insurance claims related to fire. <\/p>\n<p>As the days get warmer, we&#8217;re naturally more likely to want to light up the barbecue, pizza oven or fire pit if you&#8217;re feeling fancy, or pile of old pallets if you&#8217;re not.<\/p>\n<p>But while it may be lovely to have a burger in the garden, it&#8217;s not so lovely if your shed catches fire. <\/p>\n<p>Data from insurance giant Aviva showed that the number of garden fires in April and May this year has already overtaken every month in 2024, even in the middle of <a data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/summer\/\">summer<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Claims it received include sheds, fencing and decking being destroyed by garden bonfires; embers from a barbecue landing on a shed and setting its contents ablaze; and ash from a fire pit causing a garage fire.<\/p>\n<p>The insurer said that the average claim involving a garden amounts to nearly \u00a316,000. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/SEI_251256057-0933.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-23269441\" alt=\"Mandatory Credit: Photo by Amer Ghazzal\/Shutterstock (15299541a) Pedestrians walking in in the bright sunshine on Westminster bridge England faces a risk of drought this summer due to the driest start to spring in over six decades, prompting warnings of potential hosepipe bans. Seasonal Weather, Westminster Bridge, London, United Kingdom - 14 May 2025\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t<\/div><figcaption>A sunny day in London last month. England faces a risk of drought this summer due to the driest start to spring in over six decades (Picture: Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It put the increase in claims down to the UK having its sunniest spring on record, with some 630 hours of sunshine clocked across the country between March 1 and May 27, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-player\">\n<div class=\"metro-video-player \" data-track-module=\"video-player\">\n<div class=\"vjs-video-container vjs-fixed vjs-responsive\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t{&#8220;@context&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/schema.org&#8221;,&#8221;@type&#8221;:&#8221;VideoObject&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Metro.co.uk&#8221;,&#8221;duration&#8221;:&#8221;T30S&#8221;,&#8221;thumbnailUrl&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/05\/19\/16\/98535393-0-image-a-3_1747669105214.jpg&#8221;,&#8221;uploadDate&#8221;:&#8221;2025-05-19T16:09:35+0100&#8243;,&#8221;description&#8221;:&#8221;Deadlines move fast. 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class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\twindow.addEventListener(&#8216;metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded&#8217;, function(data) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tif (typeof(data.detail) === &#8216;undefined&#8217; || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === &#8216;undefined&#8217; || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === &#8216;undefined&#8217;) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\treturn;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar player = data.detail.carousel.el_;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar container = player.closest(&#8216;.metro-video-player&#8217;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar placeholder = container.querySelector(&#8216;.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder&#8217;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.removeChild(placeholder);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.classList.add(&#8216;metro-video-player&#8211;related-videos-loaded&#8217;);<br \/>\n\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But there has also been an increase in claims related to lightning over the past five years.<\/p>\n<p>The weather phenomenon can start fires when it strikes a roof or loft space, as it can cause electrical items to break or malfunction. <\/p>\n<p>Research for Aviva carried out by Censuswide in December found that among 2,000 people across the UK, one in eight (12%) people worry more about fire safety during hot weather and 13% worry more during barbecue season.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tHow to stay safe this summer\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>After seeing claims from across the country, insurance company Aviva gave these tips for avoiding having to make a claim yourself.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Garden bonfires<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If possible, it is best to avoid these completely, as they can quickly get out of control, especially during dry and windy conditions. <\/li>\n<li>If you do light a fire, never leave it unattended and keep water or a hose nearby. <\/li>\n<li>Exercise caution with fire pits and extinguish them before you go inside. <\/li>\n<li>It is also a good idea to keep an eye on fires in neighbouring gardens, in case they spread.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Barbecue with caution<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Before barbecuing, check the weather forecast for any windy weather which can make barbecuing significantly more dangerous. <\/li>\n<li>Gusts of wind can carry hot embers or sparks several feet away, increasing the possibility of a fire. <\/li>\n<li>When barbecuing, be mindful that ash can stay hot for days, so wait until it has cooled before disposing. <\/li>\n<li>Always place disposable barbecues on a non-flammable or heat resistant surface (such as stone), away from grass, fences, or sheds and leave them until they have cooled completely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Unplug appliances once charged<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Overheating lithium-ion batteries can cause fires, so always unplug chargers once tools are fully charged<\/li>\n<li>Avoid charging devices overnight or leaving them unattended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Watch windowsills<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sunlight magnified through glass objects can start fires. <\/li>\n<li>Keep mirrors, bottles, and other reflective items away from direct sunlight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Dispose of cigarettes carefully.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cigarettes and matches can easily ignite dry grass or decking.<\/li>\n<li>Always extinguish them fully and dispose of them safely.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Hannah Davidson, senior underwriting manager, commented: &#8216;Although warmer weather is often welcome news, we\u2019re urging people to remain vigilant when it comes to fire safety.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;The warm weather, paired with a lack of rain means that once started, a fire can spread very quickly \u2013 particularly as the ground is dry.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;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.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Whether it\u2019s 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\u2019s worth paying close attention to what could become a potential fire hazard.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong><strong><strong>Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:webnews@metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\">webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this, <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Barbecue weather can also be house fire weather (Picture: Rex) Listen to article Listen to article Your browser does not support the audio element. Sunny weather so far this year has led to a spike in home insurance claims related to fire. As the days get warmer, we&#8217;re naturally more likely to want to light [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1156"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1161,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156\/revisions\/1161"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pharosstory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}