Fire Prevention Can Save Lives and Minimize Loss

Every ministry should have a plan. Does yours?

Churches are particularly vulnerable to fire damage because they’re often unoccupied for long periods of time. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fire strikes about 2,000 churches annually in the United States, causing $38 million in damage. Moreover, there are indirect costs that are impossible to measure. Many of these losses can be reduced or prevented with effective fire prevention plans.


Get Started with the Fire Safety Checklist.


Arson is the leading cause of church fires, followed by kitchen fires and mechanical failures. Other common causes include candles, firepits, extension cords, and office equipment.

Limit Arson Exposure:

  • Limit key access to all buildings, including sheds and outbuildings; keep an up-to-date list of who holds keys.

  • Lock up all flammables and restrict who has permission to use the materials.

  • Install motion sensor lighting on the outside and inside of your building. Mount fixtures out of reach of people who might disable the lights to avoid detection.

  • Keep garbage containers well away from the building and empty wastebaskets daily.

  • Involve ministry leaders or security team members in neighborhood watch programs. 

  • Install central station fire and burglar alarm systems that result in the deployment of law and fire enforcement officials.

  • Whenever possible, landscape buildings to eliminate hiding areas close to the building. This is most important near windows and doors that provide points of access to the building.

  • Secure windows, basement entries, and external stairways.

  • Be alert to people who may be disgruntled and likely to retaliate by damaging church property.

  • Ask local police to patrol your property as often as possible during the evening hours. You might also ask local law and fire enforcement officials to inspect your premises and give advice on how to thoroughly secure your building.

  • Compile a list of individuals who have access to church keys. Limit the number of people on the list and recalibrate locks if any keys are lost or stolen.

Prevent Mechanical Failure:

  • Have the furnace or heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system professionally cleaned and inspected annually.

  • Turn off electrical items when not in use.

  • Replace frayed, worn, or dried-out extension cords.

  • Don’t store combustibles in the same room as the furnace or boiler.

  • Check the fuse box and make sure all fuses are the proper size for each circuit.

  • Analyze the church’s entire electrical system for adequacy.

Take Precautions in the Kitchen:

  • Provide fireproof aprons and rags. Instruct kitchen users to wear provided aprons. Explain that cotton or synthetic aprons and rags are flammable and not safe to use.

  • Are your fire extinguishers clearly visible and regularly inspected? Do you have a fire alarm pull station near the kitchen? Ensure that kitchen users know where the extinguisher and pull station are located.

  • Pay extra attention to who’s allowed to operate a deep-frying station or a pot of hot oil and how that equipment is being used. Children should be excluded from the area. Ensure that your deep-frying equipment self-regulates voltage and temperature; always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

  • When food is cooking, a kitchen user needs to be present at all times. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and casualties.1

  • Teach your kitchen users that if they have any doubt about suppressing a small fire, they should get out, close the door (if possible), and call 911 or your local emergency number. Remind users to never throw water on a grease fire. 

  • You also can ask your local fire marshal to drop by for a visit. He or she can inspect your facilities for free and praise you for correct fire prevention steps or guide you on improvements.

Nip It in the Bud

To enhance detection and suppression, invest in the following equipment:

  • Smoke alarms should be installed throughout the building. The sooner a fire is detected and extinguished, the less damage you’ll suffer.
  • Fire extinguishers. Place one in an easily accessible location on every level of your building, preferably one for every 2,500 square feet. Have a professional check them regularly to make sure they’re in working order.
  • Sprinkler systems. Automatically extinguish fires as soon as they’re detected.

Plan a Great Escape

Don’t wait until the fire alarm goes off to realize what steps you need to take to protect your congregation—have a well-designed, comprehensive, and practiced evacuation plan in place.

What’s in a Plan?

  • Easily understood emergency procedures
  • A method to alert emergency services
  • Attention to the special needs of congregants and children

Creating Your Plan

  • Ask the pros. Invite firefighters or paramedics to tour your building so that they can offer tips and suggestions on your plan and become familiar with your facility.
     
  • Think it through. Identify all the possible ways people can get out of your building, noting which routes may be inaccessible to the elderly or disabled. Consider buying wagons or sturdy cribs on wheels to help evacuate the nursery.
     
  • Assign responsibilities. Clearly define who’s responsible for carrying out each part of the evacuation. For example, certain people should be assigned to notify emergency responders and ensure that the pre-designated assembly area is safe.
     
  • Conduct ongoing training. After you’ve developed your plan, train all staff and volunteers on the proper procedures to follow.
     
  • Hold fire drills. Conduct drills at your busiest times to identify problems in your evacuation plan that could be prevented and prepare people for the real thing.
     
  • Evaluate the plan. After holding a drill, determine whether the plan was effective.
     
  • Provide information. Make sure every member of your congregation knows about your emergency procedures through announcements, specific discussions, church bulletins, visitor packets, and handouts for parents.

Additional Resources