With the UK experiencing a prolonged period of hot and dry weather this summer, and drought now declared across large parts of England for the third time in five years, Compass, a specialist provider of caravan park insurance, is urging holiday park operators to put wildfire risk management at the centre of their site planning this summer.
Holiday parks are particularly exposed to fire damage. Static caravans are typically sited close together, are often constructed with plastic and thin cladding, and rely on LPG gas cylinders for everyday use.
In a wildfire, radiant heat alone can cause fire to jump from one unit to the next, and poorly stored gas cylinders can pose serious explosion risks, which may prevent fire crews from entering a site altogether.
Those parks that sit directly alongside forest, heathland or long grass which, in a drought, becomes a continuous fuel bed leading straight to the park boundary.
In August 2025, a wildfire on the North York Moors came within a few hundred metres of a holiday park near Dalby Forest before a shift in wind and swift action from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service prevented what could have been a catastrophic loss.
Less than a year later, in late July 2026, a major wildfire broke out at Dunwich Heath on the Suffolk coast, forcing more than 200 caravans to be evacuated from the nearby Cliff House Holiday Park as flames spread across over 150 hectares of heathland. More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze over several days after a major incident was declared, a stark illustration of how quickly fire can threaten caravan parks during sustained hot, dry conditions.
Nationally, the trend is stark: the UK recorded 117 wildfires in 2025, more than double the total seen in 2023 and a 32% increase on 2024, second only to the record 207 wildfires recorded during the 40°C heat of 2022.
2025 was officially recorded as the hottest UK summer to date, and 2026 has already brought comparably extreme conditions, meaning the risk of fire-related incidents on parks remains high. This is reflected in Compass’s fire claims data, which peaked between January 2024 and December 2025 at £881,982 – more than five times the total from the previous year.
With this summer already matching the extremes of 2025, and incidents like Dunwich Heath and the North York Moors showing how fast a wildfire can take hold, proactive wildfire risk management is more critical than ever for park operators.
Common causes of caravan fires on parks include:
- Careless use of barbecues near units
- Improper disposal of cigarettes
- Unattended cooking
- Faulty gas appliances or heating systems
- Electrical overloads and damaged wiring
According to fire safety data, a fire in a mobile home or caravan is significantly more likely to result in death or serious injury compared to conventional housing.
Kevin Minnear, Head of Underwriting at Compass, explains: “For decades, risk management on UK holiday parks has been defined by water: storm surges, coastal erosion and bursting riverbanks. But what we saw as a near-miss on the North York Moors last summer, and now a major incident at Dunwich Heath this year, tells us this isn’t a one-off. It’s a pattern, and wildfire risk now needs the same rigour operators already apply to flooding.
“As insurers, we’re seeing a direct link between the frequency of these events and rising premiums, and in some high-risk areas, the potential withdrawal of cover altogether. We want to keep protecting the UK’s holiday park industry, but that starts with prevention.”
Wildfire risk management checklist for park operators:
- Create defensible space by maintaining a cleared or irrigated buffer zone between surrounding woodland, heathland or long grass and the first row of caravans, to act as a natural fire break.
- Enforce park rules on gas bottle storage: secure, upright, and never in direct sunlight, with residents reminded to turn bottles off at the manifold after every use.
- Ensure every unit is equipped with a fire blanket and extinguisher, and check these regularly alongside smoke alarms.
- Confirm internal roads remain clear and accessible for fire appliances, and that hydrants are present, tested and clearly marked.
- Build redundant, tested communication channels, such as sirens, messaging groups or warden door-knock systems, so every resident can be reached within minutes.
- Keep escape routes clear of guest vehicles and deliveries at all times, so a single blocked lane cannot delay an evacuation.
- Maintain an up-to-date register of residents with mobility issues who will need immediate assistance during an evacuation.
- Distribute clear seasonal safety guidance to residents, and consider a temporary barbecue ban or designated fire-safe zones during extreme heatwaves.
Insurance advice for holiday park operators
In the unfortunate event of a fire, adequate insurance cover can be the difference between a quick recovery and a long-term loss to the business. Park operators are advised to:
- Review your site insurance to ensure fire damage is covered comprehensively, across both park infrastructure and third-party units.
- Keep an up-to-date asset register across the site.
- Notify your insurer immediately in the event of a fire-related claim.
- Check whether your cover includes business interruption and alternative accommodation for displaced guests.
Fire spreads extremely quickly across a park – even a small spark can have devastating consequences, especially during dry spells.
Kevin Minnear added: “Prevention is always better than the cure. We want to keep protecting the UK’s holiday park industry, but that requires a partnership in prevention. By treating wildfire risk with the same rigour already applied to flooding, operators can protect their site, their guests, and their business.”
For more information on specialist insurance for holiday parks and caravan operators, visit compassparks.co.uk
