AMI Insurance has seen a nearly 40% increase in house fires between summer and winter 2023, following a 20% increase the year before.
The insurer said lower temperatures caused house fire risks to increase.
“With the winter chill comes more time spent inside, heaters dusted off, electric blankets dug out of storage, indoor fires being lit, and winter warmers on the stove – all of which can increase the danger of house fires occurring,” says AMI executive general manager for claims, Wayne Tippet.
According to AMI’s claims data - sourced from the largest general insurance data in New Zealand - the most common causes of house fires are:
1. Cooking (such as unattended stovetop or oven cooking, kitchen appliances)
2. Indoor fires (chimney/roof fire or embers re-igniting)
3. Electrical (switchboards, overloaded multi-boards, fuse boxes, devices charging)
4. Heating sources (heaters and electric blankets)
5. Candles
“Our data shows that winter brings a unique set of fire dangers that New Zealanders need to be cautious of. It’s so important to keep fire safety in mind, especially when cooking and heating your home,” Tippet added.
The average cost of a house fire claim increased to nearly $150,000 last year, AMI said, with one in five claims resulting in homes being uninhabitable and reaching claims costs of more than $265,000.
“While insurance is there to cover you for the loss or damage of your home or possessions in the event of a fire, we can’t replace sentimental items that can often mean the most. So it’s important to look at how to reduce the fire risk in your home to help keep everyone safe,” Tippet said.
