Fire on the front line: what incident reality tells us about prevention and risk
KeynoteClaims Club Briefing 1Underwriting Club Briefing 1
2026-03-11 | 09:15 AM - 09:45 AM
Information
Fire risk in residential and mixed-use buildings is evolving in ways that are not always fully captured by data, models or regulation. Changes in construction methods, materials, energy systems and everyday behaviours are altering how fires start, spread and escalate, often with severe consequences for people, property and communities.
This session brings a front-line operational perspective from the London Fire Brigade, grounded in real incidents rather than assumptions. It will explore how modern fires behave in practice, where prevention measures succeed or fail, and why small decisions or behaviours can have disproportionate impacts once a fire occurs. The focus will be on learning, education and prevention, helping insurers and claims leaders better understand how real-world fire dynamics intersect with the risks they insure.
- What patterns are repeatedly seen at incident level that are not always reflected in risk assessments or models?
- How are modern materials, energy systems and building layouts changing fire behaviour and escalation in practice?
- Where do prevention measures most commonly fail — and why are those failures often behavioural rather than technical?
- How do everyday actions by occupants, landlords and building managers influence fire outcomes?
- How could earlier education, clearer guidance and shared responsibility materially reduce harm to people, property and communities?
Speakers
Lynsey Seal
London Fire Brigade
Principal fire engineer