The lockdown played an important role in the increase in fires in the UK.
The transformation of sheds into offices caused a 16% increase in fires.
When the first Covid lockdown occurred, workers in Britain opted to convert their sheds into offices – “shoffices” – and bars, but the trend has led to an increase in fires in outbuildings.
Data from insurer Zurich’s freedom of information requests found that fires in sheds, garages and greenhouses increased 16% in 2020 compared to the previous year.
The increase has been attributed to the popularity of turning residential outbuildings into shoffices, bars, and home gyms. Planning apps for garage conversions increased by a quarter over the past year as people increasingly worked from home and spent more time indoors.
In April, a survey by another insurer, Aviva, suggested that one in 10 of those surveyed worked in a converted shed, garage or summer home. People have been increasingly willing to pay for expensive luxury office shed conversions, as the word “shed” became the most popular search item on the Rightmove property website. In addition, the panoramic applications to convert them increased considerably.
“The sheds must meet strict security measures.”
Phil Ost, head of personal lines in Zurich, said: “In addition to storing garden tools, our sheds and garages have become a haven to escape the stresses of family life and for others in a workplace.
“Homeowners across the country have converted outbuildings into everything from bars and yoga studios to gyms and offices.
“But as the British take refuge in their garden sheds and garages, it appears to have sparked an increase in accidental fires.”
The largest increases in outbuilding fires, in the 33 out of 45 UK regions that responded to FoI’s request, were in Lancashire, with a 58% increase, and Lincolnshire, with 50%.
Ost said: “Similarly, the large increase in people buying pizza ovens and fire pits, which carry a fire risk if not properly turned off, could also explain the increase in outbuildings going up in smoke.”
During the first shutdown, fire pits and pizza ovens also grew in popularity, adding to the existing fire hazards created in gardens by lawnmowers, barbecues and paint thinners. Sales of outdoor pizza ovens also increased 306% year-on-year from March to April 2020.
Warnings have also been issued about moving property to storage units while people are working from home, and some warehouses have caught fire.
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