Wildfires in the United Kingdom were once a statistical rarity, relegated to the heathlands and moorlands of the north with minor media coverage. But recent summers have forced a rethink. In 2022, the UK recorded over 700 wildfires—more than triple the average in previous years—with flames reaching urban fringes, farmland, and even critical infrastructure. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and UK Met Office have since declared wildfires as a significant and escalating risk, particularly during hotter, drier summers increasingly linked to climate change.

The year 2023 saw more wildfires in England and Wales than in any previous year recorded, with over 30,000 hectares scorched, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). This surge is more than an environmental issue; it’s a warning sign for businesses, especially those integrated into the UK’s logistics, trade, real estate, and agricultural value chains.

In the export-import world, this is not a sidebar. It’s a headline. The UK’s climate vulnerability now directly touches on business continuity, operational exposure, insurance costs, and the stability of consumer markets.

The Climate Connection: Drought, Heat, and Fire

The UK’s climate is changing faster than many expected. The Met Office’s UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) show that summers could be up to 5.4°C hotter by 2070, with 47% less rainfall. These projections aren’t just theoretical anymore. July 2022 hit 40.3°C—the hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK. And what follows intense heat? Dry vegetation, volatile soil moisture, and an increased probability of ignitions from even mundane sources like discarded cigarettes or vehicle exhausts.

Fire seasons are also growing longer. Wildfires in 2023 flared as early as March and extended well into October, burning moorland, destroying farmland, and threatening supply routes. London Fire Brigade described the July 2022 wildfire response as one of its busiest days since World War II.

This new climate reality means businesses—especially those with physical infrastructure, asset-heavy operations, or cross-border exposure—must account for the wildfire risk in their enterprise risk profiles.

Which Sectors Are Most at Risk?

While wildfires grab headlines for their environmental damage, the economic consequences often cut deeper. Several industries face disproportionate exposure to the UK’s growing wildfire threat:

Agriculture and Food Exports

The UK exported £25.2 billion in food, drink, and agricultural products in 2023, much of which relies on predictable seasonal harvests and local transport. Wildfires threaten farmland directly through burns and indirectly by worsening drought and soil degradation. This affects crop yields, livestock welfare, and water availability—risk factors that must now be included in yield forecasts and pricing models.

In 2022, a 40% reduction in wheat yields was reported in wildfire-affected regions of East Anglia. Exporters relying on these supply chains experienced delays, inventory shortages, and increased freight costs due to spoilage or rerouting.

Logistics and Warehousing

The UK’s logistical arteries—motorways, rail lines, and urban storage hubs—are vulnerable to wildfires, particularly those near grasslands or moor edges. A wildfire near the M25 or West Coast Main Line can cause cascading delays across supply chains.

Even if facilities are not directly damaged, smoke and heat can disrupt loading operations, damage temperature-sensitive goods, and force rerouting of freight. The logistics cost index has shown spikes during prolonged heatwaves, with warehousing insurers increasing premiums in wildfire-prone zones.

Energy Infrastructure and Utilities

National Grid assets, electricity substations, and solar farms located in rural areas are at high wildfire risk. Fires can damage power lines and reduce grid reliability, increasing the odds of blackouts—especially during heatwaves when energy demand spikes due to cooling loads.

For export-oriented manufacturers relying on just-in-time systems, even a short disruption in power or water supply can create ripple effects through production schedules, contracts, and export fulfilment.

Construction and Real Estate

The built environment is another concern. The UK saw homes and industrial units destroyed in wildfires during the 2022 and 2023 fire seasons. Industrial estates, retail parks, and rural manufacturing facilities are not immune.

Businesses involved in construction, engineering, and property development must now consider fire-resilient design, firebreak landscaping, and insulation materials suited to higher temperatures. Climate stress testing—still an optional exercise for many—is becoming a necessity for long-term asset planning.

Insurance and Financial Services

Climate-induced wildfires are driving structural change in the insurance sector. Insurers are reassessing property and business interruption coverage, with premiums in rural-adjacent zones increasing by up to 15% year-over-year, according to Lloyd’s Market data.

Export-import players that self-insure or use niche underwriters must revisit their risk assessments and explore parametric insurance tools—those tied to triggers like temperature thresholds or hectares burned. This is a field that’s advancing rapidly, offering agility in a world where actuarial models are struggling to keep up.

Legal and Regulatory Shifts on the Horizon

Climate-linked disasters often precede regulatory responses. The UK is no exception. Government agencies and policymakers are already under pressure to:

• Mandate climate risk disclosures for large businesses under the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework, which became mandatory for over 1,300 UK companies in April 2022.
  
• Strengthen planning permissions to include fire risk zoning, especially for industrial developments near wildland areas.
  
• Invest in early warning systems, satellite-based fire detection, and national fire response coordination, which could bring new procurement opportunities for tech and equipment providers.
  

Businesses operating across the UK—or using it as a staging hub for EU or global trade—must track these developments. A regulatory misstep or failure to anticipate new compliance costs could undermine profitability just as much as physical fire damage.

Mitigation and Adaptation: What Businesses Can Actually Do

Preparing for UK wildfire risks isn’t about panic—it’s about precision. Here’s what serious export-import players should consider:

1. Integrate Climate Risk into Site Selection and Logistics Design

When choosing warehousing, manufacturing, or fulfilment sites in the UK, businesses should integrate wildfire exposure modelling into their due diligence. That includes:

• Proximity to high-risk vegetation zones (check with DEFRA and Fire Danger Rating System maps)
  
• Historical fire data (EFFIS and Met Office archives)
  
• Local fire brigade capacity and response times
  

2. Audit Your Physical Assets

Conduct resilience audits that assess:

• Fire-resistant building materials and roofing
  
• Sprinkler and fire suppression systems
  
• Backup power and water supplies
  
• HVAC systems that can function during smoke events
  

Even small upgrades—like installing heatproof shutters or clearing brush around loading zones—can dramatically reduce risk.

3. Revisit Your Business Continuity Planning (BCP)

Modern BCPs should include wildfire-specific contingencies, such as:

• Alternate transportation routes
  
• Supplier substitution protocols for at-risk harvests or manufacturing inputs
  
• Emergency employee evacuation and remote work policies
  
• Cloud-based redundancy for critical documentation and communication systems
  

4. Engage With Insurers Early and Often

Work with underwriters who understand climate exposure and can tailor products to your operations. Ask about:

• Parametric fire insurance
  
• Business interruption cover extensions
  
• Supply chain risk transfer models
  

Proactive engagement can yield lower premiums, smoother claims, and fewer gaps in protection.

5. Align With ESG Expectations

Customers, investors, and regulators increasingly expect climate-conscious strategies. Embedding wildfire mitigation into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports or sustainability disclosures is not only good PR—it’s a credibility signal in climate-conscious markets.

Final Thought: Wildfires Are a Symptom. Climate Volatility Is the Diagnosis.

The UK isn’t turning into California—but it’s no longer immune from wildfire risk. Climate volatility is not arriving. It has already arrived. Businesses that treat wildfires as a new layer of risk, rather than a seasonal inconvenience, will make smarter decisions about asset location, insurance, logistics, and compliance.

Export-import players, in particular, should treat this moment as a wake-up call. The UK is a top 10 trading nation, a major hub for European and transatlantic shipping, and a services powerhouse. But like every node in the global network, its climate resilience is now a business variable, not a background detail.

Understanding that—and acting accordingly—will distinguish companies that endure from those that get scorched, metaphorically or otherwise.

Join Hi-Fella Today!

The rise in UK wildfires is a stark reminder that climate risks are no longer distant threats—they’re disrupting supply chains today. For export-import businesses, resilience and adaptability are no longer optional. Hi-Fella empowers you to proactively manage these risks with a global network of verified partners, region-specific insights, and agile sourcing solutions that help you pivot quickly when disruptions hit. 

Whether you’re diversifying suppliers, exploring greener logistics, or planning for environmental contingencies, Hi-Fella gives you the tools to build a future-ready, climate-resilient trade operation.