Wildfire risk is becoming a serious business continuity issue

Periods of extreme heat and prolonged dry weather can create serious fire risks beyond a building’s walls.

Between Friday 24 and Sunday 26 July 2026, London Fire Brigade handled 2,729 emergency calls and attended 1,345 incidents. These included several grass and vegetation fires, with one fire destroying approximately 10 acres in Rainham.

The Brigade warned that wildfires can spread rapidly, require significant emergency resources and have serious consequences for people, property, wildlife and the environment.

For organisations responsible for commercial property, estates or multiple operational sites, the wider business lesson is clear: external fire hazards can become a continuity issue even when a fire does not begin inside the premises.

Why external fire belongs in continuity planning

Dry vegetation, combustible waste, storage areas and neighbouring land can provide a route for fire to spread towards buildings, vehicles, plant or important infrastructure.

Smoke, restricted access, road closures and emergency-service activity can also disrupt a site without the main building being directly damaged.

The practical question is therefore not simply whether a building has an alarm system. Organisations should consider how an external incident could affect people, access, communications, utilities and the systems needed to continue operating.

Start outside the building

External areas should be included in routine inspections, particularly during prolonged hot and dry weather.

Look for:

• dry grass, weeds or vegetation close to buildings;
• cardboard, packaging, pallets or combustible waste near boundaries;
• storage positioned against walls or fences;
• vegetation around plant, substations, generators or communications equipment;
• blocked or restricted emergency-service access; and
• combustible material near escape routes or assembly areas.

Issues should be recorded, assigned to an owner and addressed rather than left as informal observations.

Consider neighbouring land and boundaries

A business may maintain its own grounds carefully while remaining exposed to adjoining grassland, unmanaged vegetation, storage yards or neighbouring property.

Review where an external fire could approach the site and what lies between the boundary and critical buildings or equipment.

This does not mean assuming responsibility for neighbouring land. It means understanding the exposure, maintaining suitable separation where possible and knowing who to contact when a boundary risk is identified.

Check detection and emergency communication

Fire detection, warning and emergency communication arrangements should be maintained and appropriate for the premises.

An external fire can create different communication requirements from an internal alarm. Staff may need to be told not to use a normal exit, vehicle route or assembly point.

Organisations should know:

• who can issue an emergency instruction;
• how employees, visitors and contractors will be alerted;
• whether communications depend on one building, network or power supply;
• how remote or mobile staff will receive updates; and
• who will communicate with emergency services, landlords and neighbouring occupiers.

Review evacuation and assembly arrangements

A normal assembly point may be unsafe if smoke or fire approaches from outside the site.

Review whether alternative assembly areas are available and how staff would be directed to them. Consider people who may need assistance, visitors unfamiliar with the premises and employees working in isolated or external areas.

Evacuation instructions should be understandable without relying on one manager or fire marshal being present.

UK government guidance requires the responsible person for non-domestic premises to carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment. The assessment should consider emergency routes, detection and warning systems, evacuation planning, information and staff training.

Fire-risk assessments and emergency plans should be completed and reviewed by suitably competent people.

Connect fire planning with business continuity

Life safety comes first, but organisations should also understand how an incident would affect operations.

Identify:

• systems or equipment that cannot be accessed remotely;
• network, communications and monitoring equipment exposed at the site;
• essential operational data and where it is backed up;
• reliance on one internet, power or communications route;
• suppliers or customers requiring urgent notification;
• alternative working arrangements; and
• the process for safely assessing and restoring the site.

These dependencies should be documented before an emergency rather than discovered during one.

The Varciti perspective

Varciti does not replace the responsible person, a competent fire-risk assessor or the organisations responsible for fire-safety compliance.

Our supporting role is focused on the technology and infrastructure that help organisations remain connected and operational. This can include IT monitoring, structured network infrastructure, resilient connectivity and documented recovery arrangements.

Where fire and security systems depend on data networks or communications infrastructure, early coordination between the responsible person, competent fire specialists, facilities teams, security providers and IT partners can reduce gaps and unclear ownership.

Effective resilience is an ongoing process. As environmental conditions and external hazards change, assessments, systems, communications and continuity arrangements may need to change with them.