Preparing for harvest with reliable fire protection in place
Fireward recently completed an installation on a Claas Lexion 660 combine harvester at Fobbing Farm, just ahead of harvest. The farm, run by Essex grower George Young, produces a wide variety of arable crops including wheat, oilseed rape, peas, beans, and more specialist varieties such as hemp, buckwheat, and lentils.
When George first heard about Fireward’s dual agent automatic fire suppression system, the idea of protecting his combine felt like “a bit of a no-brainer.”
He explained, “As anybody who runs a Claas knows, they like catching fire especially when you’re putting hemp and linseed through them.”
Combines like the Claas Lexion 660 face high fire risks, especially when harvesting crops like hemp, linseed, or oilseed rape. Dust and residue build-up around the engine bay and exhaust system can quickly ignite under pressure, especially during the busiest period of the year.
According to the latest numbers released by NFU Mutual, UK farm fires rose by 21% in 2023, with combine harvester fires doubling to 258 incidents. That alone accounted for £7.4 million in insurance claims last year.
These figures from NFU Mutual highlight the growing financial burden of agricultural machinery fires:
Agricultural vehicle and machinery fire claims totalled £37.7 million in 2023
Combines accounted for £7.4 million (down from £11.1m in 2022)
Tractor fire claims rose to £20.4 million (up from £14.7m in 2022)
Other machinery, such as balers and telehandlers, made up a further £9.9 million in claims
These figures aren’t theoretical—they reflect real losses, downtime, and operational disruption for farms across the UK.
The Dual Agent system fitted to the Claas 660 uses both dry powder and clean agent suppressants to provide fast and thorough fire protection:
Dry Powder knocks down flames instantly and has excellent coverage
Wet Chemical offers prolonged cooling of hot surfaces to prevent a reflash.
See the components of our combine fire suppression system below:
Installation of the Fireward system on the Claas 660 took just two days, with George describing it as “an absolute breeze.” The kit is a bolt-on solution, requiring no complicated customisation.
He also highlighted the cost-effectiveness of the system: “It works out at around 2% of the value of the new machine, a really small investment considering what’s at stake.” He’s hopeful that, over time, insurers will recognise the system’s value in potentially reducing premiums or repair claims.
Fire Protection Beyond Combines
Fireward’s automatic fire suppression system provides round-the-clock protection by detecting heat and flame build-up and deploying suppressant within seconds.
It prevents small sparks from escalating into machine write-offs keeping harvest on track and downtime to a minimum.
Protect your machinery, your harvest, and your team with Fireward.
Our agricultural fire suppression systems are trusted across the UK to reduce downtime, protect assets, and prevent major losses.
Fireward, Protecting People and Assets 24/7.
To find out more about Fireward’s Automatic Fire Suppression systems, get in touch by calling 0800 151 0249 or email at: sales@fireward.co.uk