Preventing Arson at Houses of Worship

The burning of a house of worship is a stressful event; it not only devastates the affected congregation, but wounds the entire community. Whether the motivation behind the arson is hate or reckless vandalism, a congregation views it as an attack on their beliefs and values.

Arson robs congregations of their valuable assets, lives and property. Arson destroys more than the buildings used as houses of worship; it can devastate a community, resulting in the decline of the neighborhood through increased insurance premiums, loss of business revenue, and a decrease in property values.

Houses of worship are particularly vulnerable to fire damage because they’re often unoccupied for long periods of time, and in many cases, in rural areas. Rural properties will generally sustain more severe damage – even with an accidental fire – since discovery and response time may be delayed.

Information related to this topic was made available through the U.S. Fire Administration and Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention & Control as part of the 2017 Arson Prevention Awareness Week, this information is still available at materials:

• Help community leaders increase awareness about how to prevent arson at houses of worship.
• Spotlight recent arson fires at houses of worship in United States.

Additional Resources are available at:  https://www.fema.gov/faith-resources