Preventing Arson

Arson creates major financial losses for churches and schools and severe destruction to property. People set church buildings or schools on fire for many reasons. One of the most common is to destroy evidence following a burglary, or as an act of vandalism. Sometimes it is an accident. A homeless person may slip into the building through an unlocked door and start a fire with a candle or a cigarette. In one instance a girl age 13 started a church on fire as part of an occult ritual. An angry church member or student may commit arson. Some church fires are hate crimes. In some cases pastors or church leaders have started fires so the church can collect insurance money. Churches and schools that implement efforts to reduce crime, also reduce the likelihood of arson.

In response to the wave of church burnings in the 1990s, the federal government issued Church Threat Assessment Guide guidelines to church leaders to reduce the problem of arson and bombing attacks. These guidelines are summarized below, but should not be viewed as all-inclusive.

Area of vulnerability

The guide identifies the following churches as being at a higher risk:

Churches located in isolated or rural areas.
Churches left unattended for extended periods of time.
Churches with unsecured doors and/or uncovered windows leave weak points for forced entry by intruders.
The absence of an adequate burglar alarm system provides a determined criminal with additional time for criminal activity.
Heavy shrubs and outside vegetation, and/or the absence of sufficient perimeter lighting, provides security for criminals, not victims.

Affirmative actions to reduce vulnerability

Based on an analysis of church fires, the guide makes the following recommendations to church leaders to reduce the risk of arson or bombing. These recommendations also apply to schools and may help reduce the potential for crime or vandalism.

Install perimeter floodlights outside the building. Criminals can conceal their presence and activity from witnesses at night. Adequate lighting that illuminates all points of entry (doors, windows, skylights, etc.) discourages them. Interior lights in areas visible through exterior windows should be left on during all hours of darkness. Exterior lights should have protective screens over them to prevent vandalism. All lights should be checked weekly for serviceability. Relatively inexpensive motion activated and/or timing equipment may be purchased to automatically turn lights on and off.
Install an adequate fire and burglar alarm system. Alarms should be installed by reputable local companies that can service and properly maintain the equipment. Please note that some municipalities or police departments have enacted burglar alarm standards and will not respond to false alarms by inferior systems that frequently cause false alarms. Check with your local police or sheriff’s department.
Solid wood or sheet metal doors provide extra integrity that a hollow core wooden door cannot. Metal security grates or screens that cover the entire door and frame also provide added security. A steel door frame that properly fits the door is as important as the construction of the door. With the proper foundation of a sufficient door and frame, the most obvious consideration, door locks, can be addressed. Long throw dead bolts of hardened steel are excellent deterrents to forced entry. Many standard locks are easy to pick or break open. Do remember that exits must remain operable for fire and life safety reasons.
Install burglar-proof bars on screens, and large roof vents to prohibit access through them. However, it should be noted that aesthetic or fire safety considerations often preclude their use. If bars are used, they should be operable from the interior and not limit the exit or evacuation of the building.Local ordinances should be researched BEFORE costly security renovations are undertaken.
Use outside lights around windows. Windows, regardless of their height from the ground, are common points of entry for criminals. Burglars can open unlocked windows, break glass and unlock locked windows, saw through metal or wooden frames, or pry entire window frames from exterior walls.
Trim shrubs and vines. Heavy shrubs and vines should be kept low to the ground to reduce their potential to conceal criminals or incendiary or explosive devices. Large trees or vines should be removed to prevent criminals from climbing to upper windows, large vents, or onto the roof.
Become active in community programs. Participate in formal Neighborhood Watch type programs organized by local authorities.
Meet with your neighbors and security personnel assigned to your neighboring businesses. Explain your situation and ask them to keep an eye on your facilities.
Check the property. On a rotating basis, have a member of the congregation, who is at least 18 years of age check on the church facilities daily. Evaluate the need for a security guard for nights and weekends.
Report suspicious people. Obtain as detailed a physical description as possible of any suspicious person(s) noticed in or around your facility, including a description of vehicles and license numbers.
Duplicate all documents, computer disks, and records that are stored at the church or school. Complete a comprehensive inventory of all furniture and equipment, to include serial numbers and value. Evaluate insurance coverage frequently.
Remove fire hazards. Remove all potential fire hazards from the grounds, such as trash, lawn clippings and debris. Store all combustible materials in a locked room or shed.
Cautionary notes
While leaders can take affirmative steps to reduce arson, there are some things that should not be done. Churches that feel they are at a high risk should observe the following cautionary notes:
DO NOT allow watch persons to sleep inside the church.
The carrying of firearms, nightsticks, mace, or any type of weapon while conducting surveillance or participating in watch programs should not be permitted.
DO NOT approach a suspicious person, challenge anyone, or otherwise place yourself in jeopardy. If a suspicious situation is found, report it to the nearest law enforcement agency. Take detailed legible notes of the activity, which may be used later for court or police purposes.
DO NOT pursue vehicle or suspects.
Remember, you do not possess police powers and you are liable as an individual for civil and criminal charges should you exceed your authority. The key is to OBSERVE and REPORT.
If possible, conduct any watch patrols in pairs.
Conduct watches in a random fashion and not in an observable pattern. Many of the listed security measures are quite expensive and may be beyond the means of many churches or schools. Local police crime prevention sections are excellent sources for security evaluations and suggestions. Also, local fire departments can provide on-site fire safety and arson prevention inspections. They will assist you in prioritizing your needs within your budget constraints.

Checklist to Reduce the Risk of Arson

Answering yes to one of the following five questions indicates that your church or school is in a higher risk group for arson:

Is your church or school located in isolated or rural area?
___Yes ___No
Is your church or school left unattended for extended periods of time?
___Yes ___No
Does your church or school contain unsecured doors and/or uncovered windows that leave weak points for forced entry by intruders?
___Yes ___No
Does your church or school lack an adequate burglar alarm system?
___Yes ___No
Is your church or school facility surrounded by heavy shrubs and outside vegetation, and/or the absence of sufficient perimeter lighting that provides security for criminals?
___Yes ___No

Arson Prevention Checklist

Check that perimeter floodlights have been installed outside the building

Check that interior lights located in areas visible through exterior windows are kept on during all hours of darkness.

Check that you have outside lights around windows.

Check that you have installed an adequate fire and burglar alarm system.

Check that you have installed solid wood or sheet metal doors that provide extra integrity that a hollow core wooden door cannot.

Consider the use of metal security grates or screens that cover the entire door and frame to provide added security.

Check that you use long throw-dead-bolts of hardened steel to deter forced entry.

Check that you have installed burglar-proof bars on screens, and large roof vents to prohibit access through them.

Check that you have removed trees or vines that enable criminals to climb to upper windows, large vents, or onto the roof.

Check that shrubs and vines have been trimmed.

Meet with your neighbors and security personnel assigned to your neighboring businesses. Explain your situation and ask them to keep an eye on your facilities.

Check that you have duplicate copies of all valuable documents, computer disks, and records that are stored at the church or school.

Check that you have a complete and comprehensive inventory of all furniture and equipment, including serial numbers and value.

Check that all potential fire hazards have been removed from the grounds, such as trash, lawn clippings and debris.

Check that all combustible materials are in a locked room or shed.

This article is excerpted from the downloadable resource Safeguarding Your Church from Fires.

James F. Cobble, Jr., received his master of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, and also has doctoral degrees from both Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Illinois.