FIREFIGHTERS have been called out to more than 50 cannabis farms in the last decade – and it is landlords who must often foot the bill, figures reveal.
The service attended 55 incidents over the past decade in across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, the latest figures show, the third highest rate of callouts in England and Wales.
Recent fires at cannabis farms in Worcestershire
The Worcester News has reported on some of them, including a fire at a warehouse in Hanbury in February 2024. West Mercia Police confirmed that a warehouse that has gone up in flames was the site of a cannabis farm.
FIRE: Emergency services were called out to a fire on Wylds Lane in Worcester in March (Image: Newsquest)
In March this year we reported how police made the discovery of about 150 plants after a house fire in Wyld’s Lane, Worcester on Sunday, March 8.
Four Hereford and Worcester fire engines as well as a West Mercia Police van and two police cars were called to the home which is near the junction with Sawmill Close while power was cut off for 72 properties as a precaution by National Grid.
We reported in November 2024, how a blaze at a property in Bromyard Road, St John’s, Worcester was later found to contain a cannabis grow with around 150 plants.
We approached both West Mercia Police and Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for a response to the data, released by Zurich UK. However, neither had responded by the time the Worcester News went to press.
DAMAGE: Fire in a warehouse in Hanbury, near Droitwich (Image: Newsquest)
The figures shows a sharp rise in cannabis farm-related fires and underlines the growing risks posed to landlords and communities by illegal grow operations.
Scott Clayton, head of claims fraud for Zurich UK, said: “Many landlords still picture cannabis farms operating in remote industrial estates or hidden warehouses.
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“What we’re increasingly seeing is organised criminal groups targeting empty shops, offices and retail premises, often hiding in plain sight on high streets across the UK.”
Specialist Claims Investigation Unit has dealt with cannabis farm claims worth £9.4 million since 2022 alone, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Data obtained by Zurich UK
The data, obtained through freedom of information requests from 21 fire and rescue services, shows a 218 per cent increase in cannabis farm incidents since 2015.
Nationally, there were 17 incidents in 2015, rising to a record 54 in 2024, with numbers remaining high in 2025 at 50.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service recorded the highest number of attendances, with 90 suspected or identified cannabis farms over the past seven years.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service ranked second with 56 incidents, followed closely by Hereford and Worcester with 55.
The Home Office recorded 640 cannabis farm fires across the UK between 2019 and 2024.
These illegal operations are increasingly being set up in rented or vacant commercial properties, including shops and offices.
Landlords are being warned that cannabis farms often cause extensive damage, including tampered electrical systems, structural changes, and fire hazards.
Stewart Powell, regional major loss lead for Zurich UK, said: “For many landlords, the full impact only becomes apparent once a cannabis farm has been uncovered and the extent of the damage becomes clear.
“While the fire risk associated with these operations is well known, fire is often only one part of a much larger problem.
“We’ve seen claims involving dangerous electrical alterations, extensive water damage from irrigation systems, widespread damp and mould, and significant structural changes made to conceal growing operations.
“By the time a property is recovered, landlords can be left facing months of disruption, substantial reinstatement work and repair bills running into hundreds of thousands of pounds before a building can be safely occupied again.”
The insurer is urging landlords to carry out thorough tenant checks and remain alert to suspicious behaviour.
Warning signs of cannabis farms
Warning signs can include tenants offering to pay rent without negotiation, insisting on cash payments, refusing inspections, or proposing commercially unrealistic business activities.
Physical indicators may include blacked-out windows, strong odours, unauthorised ventilation systems, and unexplained electrical modifications.
Zurich advises landlords to remain cautious if a tenant becomes hard to contact, requests to sublet soon after taking possession, or if utility companies raise concerns about unpaid bills.
Other red flags include properties that never appear open for business, the sudden installation of security shutters, or high levels of humidity inside the building.
The insurer stresses that regular property inspections and robust due diligence can help landlords identify illegal activity early and avoid potentially devastating financial losses.
