Church Security Series: Fire and Arson in Houses of Worship.

Heavenly Fire vs. Earthly Fire

While worshiping in the House of the Lord, there is no feeling like the presence of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the whole of the Christian experience, the reference to the Holy Spirit as the “heavenly fire” resounds as a testament of God’s presences within us. From the accounts of the Day of Pentecost:

1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 1:1-4) KJV

We see many references to this in the various songs of the church, perhaps none quite so currently popular as a portion of the lyrics in Donnie McClurkin’s “Caribbean Medley”:

Fire, fire, fire,

Fire fall on me

On the day of Pentecost, the fire fall on me.

While the “heavenly fire” is certainly a moving, spiritual topic, very little is discussed about the earthly fire that, in recent years, has destroyed thousands of houses of worship across the United States. Many congregations have had to deal with the destruction affects of fires, particularly the Black Churches in the Southern United States.

According to the National Church Arson Task Force under the auspices of the ATF, some 945 incidents of arson, bombings, or attempted bombings were documented between 1995 and 2000. The list of these churches should awaken church security officials so that the threat of fire is taken more seriously. To underscore the severity of this, here are the churches that burned between 1995 to mid-1996 alone:

Johnson Grove Baptist, Bells, Tenn.; Jan. 13, 1995

Macedonia Baptist, Denmark, Tenn.; Jan. 13, 1995

Mount Calvary Baptist, Hardeman County, Tenn.; Jan. 31, 1995

Mount Zion AME, Williamsburg County, S.C.; June 20, 1995 (arrest made)

Macedonia Baptist, Manning S.C.; June 22, 1995 (arrest made)

St. John Baptist, Lexington County, S.C.; Aug. 15, 1995 (arrest made)

Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Raeford, N.C.; Oct. 31, 1995

Mount Zion Baptist, Boligee, Ala.; Dec. 22, 1995

Salem Baptist, Gibson County, Tenn.; Dec. 30, 1995

Ohovah AME Church, Orrum, N.C.; Jan. 6, 1996 (arrest made)

Inner City, Knoxville, Tenn.; Jan. 8, 1996

Little Zion Baptist, Green County, Ala.; Jan. 11, 1996

Mount Zoar Baptist, Green County, Ala.; Jan. 11, 1996

Cypress Grove Baptist, East Baton Rouge, La.; Feb. 1, 1996

St. Paul's Free Baptist, East Baton Rouge, La.; Feb. 1, 1996

Sweet Home Baptist, Baker, La.; Feb. 1, 1996

Thomas Chapel Benevolent Society, East Baton Rouge, La.; Feb. 1, 1996

Glorious Church of God in Christ, Richmond, Va.; Feb. 21, 1996

New Liberty Baptist, Tyler, Ala.; Feb. 28, 1996 (arrest made)

St. Paul AME, Hatley, Miss.; March 5, 1996

New Mount Zion Baptist, Ruleville, Miss.; March 20, 1996

Gay's Hill Baptist, Millen, Ga.; March 27, 1996

El Bethel, Satartia, Miss.; March 30, 1996 (arrest made)

St. Charles Baptist, Paincourtville, La.; April 11, 1996

Rosemary Baptist, Barnwell, S.C.; April 13, 1996

Effingham Baptist, Effingham, S.C.; April 26, 1996

Mount Pleasant Baptist, Tigrett, Tenn.; May 14, 1996

Mount Tabor Baptist, Cerro Gordo, N.C.; May 23, 1996

Pleasant Hill Baptist, Lumberton, N.C.; May 24, 1996

Rising Star Baptist, Greensboro, Ala.; June 3, 1996

Matthews Murkland Presbyterian Church sanctuary, Charlotte, N.C.; June 7, 1996 (arrest made)

New Light House of Prayer, Greenville, Texas; June 9, 1996

The Church of the Living God, Greenville, Texas; June 9, 1996

Evangelist Temple, Marianna, Fla.; June 12, 1996

First Missionary Baptist Church, Enid, Okla.; June 13, 1996 (arrest made)

Hills Chapel Baptist Church, Rocky Point, N.C.; June 17, 1996

Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, Kossuth, Miss.; June 17, 1996

Central Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Kossuth, Miss.; June 17, 1996

Immanuel Christian Fellowship, Portland, Ore.; June 20, 1996

New Birth Temple, Shreveport, La.; June 24, 1996

The bias against the threat of fire

When people think of any security matter, the natural thought focuses on the protection of property, lives, or money. In some ways, police issues have been more favored by the media and the movie industry. More interesting story lines seem to develop out of law enforcement and criminal justice matters.

If you stop and think about it, you probably can name twice as many police show and movies as you could shows that deal with fire fighting.

It took 9/11 to remind America of the role that firefighting plays in the overall public safety continuum. The hazard of fire has receded in the past 50 years with the advent of tougher building and construction codes that require new advancements in fire suppression. The spread of smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and fire retardant materials has diminished the view of the fire fighter as a hero and a public figure.

Similarly, most church security teams are more focused on protection of property, money, and the pastor. Fire protection and response does not very often enter into the conversation within churches. Even though many churches do not have sprinkler systems or smoke detectors, the emphasis for many security teams is still on “the protection of the collection”.

Most church security teams are staffed with current or retired law enforcement officers that use their expertise to provide security. This inherently creates a skewed perspective toward a defensive posture that deals with the hazard of crime vs. the hazard of fire issues. Moreover, while some of these persons may have security training, fire suppression may not be a skill set present on the team, much less a skill practiced by the team.

The sensibilities that come into play here are an untimely reversal of expectations. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there is an average of 1,300 church fires per year with about $38 million in property losses. Conversely, a 2004 study published in The Journal of Criminal Justice focused on the issue within houses of worship found, especially in the urban south, Pastor’s were concerned very little about violence or arson and were more concerned about graffiti on there buildings.

The movement of our society toward an older population further underscores the need for houses of worship to take fore more seriously. According to a 2002 ABC news poll, 65% of all seniors attend church at least once a week. With the advent of more programming for seniors during the weekday, the risk of seniors being exposed to a potential church fire is greater than ever before.

According to the data presented, it is more likely that your church might have a fire than for you to have a problem with violence of some sort. We must begin to broaden the perspectives of those who provide church protection and create new competencies for those who protect us while in the house of the Lord.

Causes and Locations of Church Fires

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, arson is the leading cause of church fires. Between 1996 and 1998, some 25% of all church fires were ascribed to suspicious incendiary activity. Most startlingly, the next batch of church fires started as electrical problems (17%), and then from open flames and furnaces (12% each).

These facts call into question the issue of regular maintenance and inspection for church facilities. Fire codes may vary per city in terms of inspection rates, but it is the responsibility of the church leadership to seek annual reports on the conditions of wires and electrical conduits. Older wiring and electrical outlets also may not meet current codes, and, although the church may be grandfathered in as an older building; it doesn’t lessen the impact of a devastating fire.

Open flames also present a unique problem, as most churches light candles on a regular basis for worship services. Candle fires were on the rise through the 1990’s, according to a report by the State Fire Marshal of Massachusetts; even as the overall numbers of fires fell during this same period. A recommendation would be to have fire extinguishers with in a few feet from where regularly open flames are lit. Training with clergy, lay officers, and security staff as to the proper use of fire extinguishers would also be appropriate.

Furnaces can be kept safe with regular cleaning and, in some cases, upgrades to more modern equipment. Depending on the size and regularity of use, new HVAC systems may also be good investments for churches.

Fires in the church are most likely to start in the walls of a large assembly area as in a kitchen. This is as result of greater usage of heat, open flames, and electricity in these areas. Safety training may or may not have been given to church leaders and members, further increasing the risks of fire.

While we all enjoy a good meal after a church event, safety matters often are remote thoughts. The overloading of outlets, lack of ventilation for heat buildup, and errant use of old electrical devices with frayed or loose plugs contribute greatly to this phenomenon.

Prevention Efforts

Better fire prevention can be achieved in houses of worship with a coordination of efforts:

The addition of smoke detectors at various points of the church edifice. According to the US Fire Administration smoke detectors were not installed in 65% of churches that caught fire. In 96% of all church fires, no sprinkler system was present, causing more substantial structural damage.

The implementation of a sprinkler system will reduce the financial loss and prevent potential loss of life. Basic training of security personnel, kitchen staff, and clergy on the usage of fire extinguishers and their limits. The distribution of fire extinguishers in well-marked spots throughout the church will also help. The proper usage and upgrade of electrical outlets with in church facilities is vital. (No overloading of outlets.)

Proper documentation and storage of accelerants (oil, gas, or other combustible materials) is key in making fire safety apart of the church’s overall security plan. The Arson Prevention Bureau of London recommends that a safety program identify places that have flammable or combustible materials and limiting access to these areas.

Identifying a person to head a fire risk assessment and prevention team to look for hazards and to identify remedies is recommended Practice or exercise evacuations of the church by security personnel is also a must.

The necessity of recognizing this problem by church security leaders is an important matter. As many churches will begin to age well into their 80th or better years of usage, the risks of fire events will continue to rise. To be on fire for the Lord is one matter, to prevent fires in His sanctuary is quite another. As we seek eternal salvation, we plan to eventually take a spiritual journey to heaven. Similarly, the key to prevent fires is planning; what plans has your church made around fire safety? Be encouraged to show leadership around your fire prevention efforts; it may be just your calling.