The south west is one of the regions worst hit by farm fires in the country as the costs of these incidents hit a four-year peak.

Figures from rural insurer NFU Mutual show a 27.5 per cent increase in damage costs from farm fires over a 12 month period. The costs were £46.4 million for 2018.

The south west was the third worst affected region with claims costs of more than £7m (a 14 per cent increase from 2017). Only the east and Scotland were worse affected.

Dorset has been hit by a number of barn fires this year. One such fire happened in Abbotsbury in August, where approximately 25 firefighters tackled a barn blaze that burned all the way through the night. Another happened earlier in September, in which nearly 300 straw bales went up in smoke in a field between Winterborne Kingston and Winterborne Whitechurch.

A combine harvester fire in west Dorset also happened earlier this month, in which workers on a farm between Whitchurch Canonicorum and Shave Cross managed to help prevent the spread of the blaze by using a fire extinguisher on it.

Farmers are being advised to check their fire prevention methods and evacuation procedures in the wake of this news.

Rebecca Davidson, NFU Mutual rural insurance specialist, said: “Fire remains one of the greatest risks to the lives and property of farmers. Our latest figures serve as a crucial reminder to be alert to the danger and have plans prepared and shared with family members and staff. It is possible to manage the risks by taking all possible steps to prevent fires breaking out, and to have clear plans in place to evacuate people and livestock safely in the event of a fire.”

The most common cause of fire on farms in the south west in 2018 were electrical fires, accounting for 42 per cent. The next most common causes were fires spreading from other areas, including barns and homesteads (23 per cent), and arson (12 per cent).

Ian Jewitt, Managing Director of NFU Mutual Risk Management Services, said: “Electrical faults are the biggest cause of farm fires across the UK and we’d advise farmers to schedule regular safety checks of electrical equipment to help minimise that risk. Consider fencing off straw stacks and farm buildings to discourage arsonists and make it harder for fires to spread by keeping hay and straw at least 10 meters away from farm buildings.”

“To enable you to fight a small fire safely, keep fire extinguishers in good working order and make adults living and working on the farm aware of where they can be found and how they should be used.”