2025 has been a torrid year so far for historic buildings with a rise in incidents of arson at listed and unlisted historic buildings. UAH have collated together a list of buildings affected by fire damage using freely available newspaper reports and information from social media. So far in 2025, 8 listed buildings have been ravaged by fires in only six months. Additionally other historic but unlisted structures have been damaged by fire recently as exampled at Lurgan and also Milltown House famed for its associations with Cecil Frances Alexander. Many of these are deliberate actions, while others are more opportunistic taking advantage of lack security. Ten year data suggests that 29 listed buildings have been damaged by fire.
Click here to explore the fire map – Heritage in Flames
The Storymap also highlights examples of where buildings that have been damaged by fire in the past have been brought back into use. All is not lost.
Greater attempts must be made to keep historic buildings in use, maintained, and monitored. The evidence above shows that most fires occur in vacant buildings and are also mostly arson attacks. The restoration case studies show that even the most damaging of fires can be reversed to its former glory. Given the opportunity, historic buildings can address the issues of housing shortages and help tackle climate change through the reuse of existing historic sites.
Image courtesy of Newry LN
