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Did
you know?
 Arson
claimed the lives of more than 650 people in 1994 and caused
$2.2 billion in property loss.
Two million
fires are reported each year, including as many as 573,000
arson fires.
Churches
are often an easy target for arsonists since many are located
in isolated areas, they are empty much of the time, and many
are constructed of wood and furnished with wooden pews.
Motives
to set church arson fires include: spite or revenge, fraud,
vandalism, murder, con-cealment of a crime, and/or racial
hatred. |
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Alternative Heater Safety
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home
Illuminate
the church exterior and entrances. Use motion-activated lighting
near doors and windows.
Proper
landscaping can help create a crime-free environment. Keep
shrubbery and trees trimmed so the building can be observed
by passing patrols.
Use
adequate locks and security devices on doors and windows.
Communicate
with law enforcement and fire officials about concerns regarding
arson and other crimes.
Appoint
a person from the church to work as a liaison with these authorities.
Promote
a neighborhood arson and crime watch to report suspicious
activity.
Keep
church leaders and members informed of concerns and crime
prevention activities.
Keep
boxes, trash, wood and other combustibles away from the building.
Install
smoke alarms on every level of the building and test the batteries
once a month. Replace smoke alarm batteries at least once
a year.