• Contact their tour operator or airline for advice and information.
• Always follow local health advice and pay attention to weather warnings. Your travel insurance will apply in the usual way if you need emergency medical treatment due to extreme weather.
• If planning on travelling, always keep up to date with and follow the latest foreign travel advice on GOV.UK from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), especially as travelling against it is likely to invalidate your travel insurance. 
• Check the scope of cover under your travel insurance policy. In some circumstances you may be covered for disruption caused by extreme weather – see below. If you are injured or fall ill due to a wild fire or an extreme weather event your policy will cover you in the normal way

When wildfires or extreme weather strikes, people will naturally be concerned for their safety and we would encourage everyone to follow local health advice and pay attention to weather warnings. 

If your flight or accommodation is cancelled, refunds should be sought from the airline, accommodation provider or tour operator in the first instance. Any bookings made through a credit card may also have recoverable costs. 

If your policy includes trip disruption or natural disaster cover, you should be covered if you have to cut short or cancel your holiday. 

Check your policy details and speak to your insurer if you’re not sure what is included. If you’re injured or fall ill from the effects of extreme weather, your travel insurance will of course cover you in the usual way.

If the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all but essential overseas travel to a certain country then, providing the insurance was purchased and holiday booking was made before the advice changed, most travel disruption cover policies will cover cancellation costs that cannot be recovered from your airline or travel provider. 

Possessions you have lost or had to abandon will likely be covered by standard travel insurance policies. Terms and conditions may vary, so we would recommend speaking to your insurer to make sure. 

If you’re being forced to leave your accommodation, follow the advice of emergency services on the ground and any local health advice. When it is safe to do so, contact your insurer to check what your policy covers and they can provide advice on next steps. 

If you have not yet travelled to your destination, contact your insurer before you decide to cancel flights or book any new accommodation. They can advise on what your policy will cover you for. 

If your flight is cancelled or you have had to leave your accommodation, refunds should be sought from the airline, tour operator or accommodation provider in the first instance. Any bookings made through a credit card may also have recoverable costs. 

If you want to book another flight back to the UK or need alternative accommodation, we’d recommend speaking to your insurer first to check what is covered in your policy, and they can advise on next steps. 

Travel insurance provides the peace of mind that, should you need emergency medical treatment overseas, you will be protected from the potentially jaw droppingly high fees. This includes falling ill due to a heatwave.

If you become ill, insurers will have a 24-hour phone number for you to call if you need to use your insurance.

In emergency situations, you should seek help at the nearest appropriate medical facility and contact your insurer as soon as it’s safe to do so. If you need support but it’s not an emergency, call your insurer before seeking medical assistance.

Travel insurance is primarily to protect you against what can be incredibly high costs of needing emergency medical treatment overseas, but is unlikely to provide cover if you’re unable to go outside on your holiday because of extreme weather. 

However, some insurers do offer add-ons which can be purchased at the same time you buy your policy, which will offer protection against disruption or natural disasters. So be sure to check your policy and speak to your insurer if you’re not clear what’s covered. 

It is always sensible to follow health advice, and if you’re injured or fall ill due to extreme weather it will of course cover you in the usual way.

The primary purpose of travel insurance is to cover the costs of emergency medical treatments or repatriation should the worst happen, which can run into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds.

It can cover you if you need to cancel or cut short your holiday but it’s likely this will only be under limited circumstances, for example if you or a close family member fall ill, not because of a disinclination to travel.

Insurance can cover you if advice from the Government changes since you’ve booked your trip and it’s no longer considered safe to travel to the destination.

We understand how frightening and distressing it can be if your home has been affected by a wildfire.  

Standard home insurance policies typically cover damage caused by fire, including wildfires. When homes are damaged by fire, insurers' priority is to help customers recover and get back on their feet as quickly as possible. This can include making emergency payments, arranging temporary accommodation where needed, and helping to repair or rebuild damaged properties. 

If your property has been affected, contact your insurer as soon as it is safe to do so. They will be able to explain the claims process, provide practical support and help you understand what assistance may be available under your policy. 

In the event of a fire, your insurance company will pay to rebuild or repair your home and remediate smoke damage. This often includes outbuildings such as garages and sheds, along with their contents, and garden furniture, gates and fences. It is always worth checking your policy to understand exactly what is covered.  

It's worth noting that damage to fences caused by storms is often excluded under many policies. 

Insurance policies differ, so if you are unsure what is covered, check your policy documents or speak to your insurer. For example, some policies cover trees, hedges and lawns, while others do not.

Being asked to leave your home can be unsettling. Most home insurance policies provide alternative accommodation where a property has been damaged and is no longer safe to live in. If you are evacuated as a precaution and your property has not been damaged, temporary accommodation is typically arranged through the Local Authority. If you are unsure, speak to your insurer, who can explain what support may be available.

Unfortunately, if you do not have insurance, you will not be able to make a claim for damage to your property.

However, support may still be available. Anyone affected should contact their local authority, which may be able to provide assistance and advice. The Government also recommends contacting the Red Cross for help and support following a fire.

The fire brigade is best placed to advise on fire prevention methods, but there are a number of precautions property owners can take to reduce the risk, including: 

• Make sure your property has the correct fire safety equipment. Smoke alarms are a must for both homes and commercial properties. Make sure they are regularly tested to ensure they are working properly. 
• Clear any dry vegetation (dead leaves, twigs, branches) from around the house such as fallen dry leaves. Keep lawns and grasses short. 
• Clean gutters regularly. 
• Take extreme precaution when having any barbeques or bonfires, and never leave them unattended. 
• Store firewood at least 10m away from the property if possible. 
• Have a fire escape plan and make sure all occupants are aware of the plan; keep potential fire exits unblocked to allow easy access. 

The most important thing is to stay safe, informed and follow the advice of emergency services. 

• Monitor official warnings closely and follow guidance from the Fire and Rescue Service, Local Authority or other emergency services. 
• Keep your insurer's contact details to hand, along with key contact numbers for utility providers and local authorities. 

Your safety and the safety of those around you should always come first.

• Never put yourself at risk. If you have been evacuated, follow instructions do not return until emergency services confirm it is safe to do so.
• If a fire breaks out in or near your property, call the emergency services immediately.
• Contact your insurer as soon as possible when it is safe to do so. They will be able to provide guidance and support and explain the next steps.

Making a claim may feel daunting, particularly after a stressful event, but insurers are there to guide customers through the process.

• Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Most operate 24-hour emergency helplines.
• If emergency repairs are needed to prevent further damage, speak to your insurer before arranging them.
• Keep receipts for any emergency repairs you have to arrange yourself.
• Unless they pose a health or safety risk, avoid disposing of damaged items until your insurer has advised you, as many items can be repaired, restored or assessed as part of a claim.

We understand people will want to return to normal as quickly as possible after a fire. Every claim is different, and the time needed will depend on the extent of the damage and any repair or rebuilding work required.

An insurer or appointed loss adjuster will assess the damage and set out likely timescales. Throughout the process, insurers will work closely with you and keep you updated on progress.

Insurers' immediate priority is helping affected customers recover from the impact of the fire. The home insurance market remains highly competitive and, whether someone has made a claim or not, it can still be worthwhile shopping around to find the policy that best meets their needs. 

Insurers understand the importance of helping businesses recover as quickly as possible. Depending on the circumstances and the cover in place, support may include arranging emergency assistance payments, appointing loss adjusters, supporting repair or reinstatement work. 

Businesses should contact their insurer before undertaking significant clean-up or repair work, unless immediate action is required to protect people or prevent further damage. Insurers can advise on the appropriate steps to take and what evidence may be needed to support a claim.

If you have business interruption cover, it may help with financial losses arising from physical damage to insured premises, such as loss of income and certain ongoing costs while the business recovers. The extent of cover will depend on the terms of the policy, so businesses should check with their insurer.

Cover for disruption caused by restricted access, road closures or evacuation orders varies between policies. Businesses should review their policy wording or speak to their insurer to understand whether any cover may apply in these circumstances.