One listed building is damaged or destroyed by fire each week, said insurer Zurich Municipal.
It said poor maintenance, old electrical systems, contractors and arson are common causes of fire on listed buildings.
Other risks include exposed timber floor structures, walls lined internally with combustible materials, thatched roofs and hidden voids in floors, walls and open roofs, it said.
There are also safety issues surrounding the fact that visitors are often unfamiliar with the building and will need managing and evacuating in the event of a fire.
The insurer said the costs involved in repairing and restoring listed buildings are higher than in more modern buildings because of the specialist cleaning equipment and craftsmen involved.
Zurich Municipal loss control manager Graham Page, said: “Most of the time it is possible for the owners as well as the general public to take simple steps to protect these buildings and avoid or minimise fire damage.
“As long as we understand that older buildings have their own unique set of potential problems we can take steps to safeguard our heritage for the future.”
Zurich Municipal has compiled a number of recommendations for the owners of listed buildings to follow to help protect them from fire or damage relating to fire.
It urged owners to conduct complete fire risk assessments to identify, control or eliminate potential fire risks, to ensure formal procedures are in place and that staff know what to do if fire breaks out, and to provide salvage equipment in the event of a fire, so that valuable items can be safely removed or protected from further damage.
