Don't Let It Burn

Securing the Church through Access Control

This article is based on the Safety Member Certification training module "Arson and Fire Safety."[1]

From the Bible

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth (Proverbs 26:20).

Introduction

Fire Prevention Week is two months from now, October 6-12, 2024, the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, and October is Fire Prevention Month.[2]

Hopefully, discussing this topic now will get church leaders and safety ministries all fired up to educate their congregations in fire safety. There should be time enough to plan the fire safety program for that week, or at least in October.

Proverbs 26:20 uses the fact that a fire needs fuel to burn as an illustration for how dissention is fueled by gossip. We see in the first half of this verse a basic principle in preventing fires: keep fuel and heat separated. We need to know how to prevent fires not only in the church, but also in our homes, schools, workplaces, and vacation spots. If all of us practice fire safety wherever we are, we are more likely to practice it in the church.

In the News

International Fire & Safety Journal, London, July 17, 2023 - This article from a year ago lists 23 causes of fires. Most are commonly known, but there are some not well-known that deserve consideration. Among these are mechanical friction (for example, a fan motor), construction materials, and glass objects in windows that can focus sunlight on flammable objects in a room. One item not in this list is oily rags and other sources of spontaneous combustion, which did cause a church fire in Lawrence, Nebraska.[3][4]

Montgomery, Alabama, July 14, 2024 - Golf carts used to shuttle members from the parking lot caught fire in the courtyard of a church in Montgomery. This interrupted the 11 a.m. service, which was in progress. Everyone was safely evacuated.[5]

New York City, May 1, 2016 - A massive fire gutted the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City on the evening of Orthodox Easter. Candles used in the holiday service were not entirely extinguished nor kept in fireproof containers.[6]

Savannah, Georgia, July 17, 2023 - A lightning strike ignited a fire at a 123-year-old Savannah church. As a result, the roof collapsed.[7]

Pittsburg, California, January 7, 2024 - A fire began in the sanctuary of a church in Pittsburg on a Sunday afternoon and spread to the roof and attic. News articles did not report the determined cause of the fire, but it began in the sanctuary near the platform. The fire inspector did not definitely determine the cause of the fire, but said he "could not eliminate an electrical failure as a cause." Also, the weather was cold, with a low of 34º and 55º for the high, so the heating system had been on. [8][9][10]

Bronx, New York City, NY, January 9, 2022 - A fire in a 19-story apartment building started with a faulty electric space heater in the bedroom of a second floor apartment. Fire doors did not close as they should, allowing smoke to spread through the upper floors. Nineteen people died of smoke inhalation. Nine of them were children. Several others were injured, one by falling from a rescue ladder.[11]

San Francisco, California, March 29, 2024 - An arson fire on Good Friday closed the homeless shelter at a church in San Francisco. Someone put cardboard on the outside wall and set it afire.[12]

Fire Science

Fire science shows us the basics of preventing a fire and stopping one. Three things are needed to start and sustain a fire - fuel, heat, and oxygen. Withhold one or two, and the fire will not start. Remove one, and the fire dies, as is said in Prov. 26:20: "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out." The three items needed for fire are oxygen, heat, and fuel. The goal in fire prevention is to keep these separate. Since oxygen is generally present, the best way to prevent a fire is to keep fuels and heat separate.

Heat

Heat is a relative factor. Different fuels have different ignition temperatures. Paper ignites at 451º F and wood at close to 600º F. The actual ignition temperature depends on the type of wood. It also depends on how dry the wood is and its condition. Wood that is constantly exposed to a heat lower than the ignition point, can eventually become ignitable at a lower temperature, and therefore become a fire hazard. Gasoline ignites at 495º F. These and other fuels reach much higher temperatures when burning, so they can ignite even more material. This means that most fires are harder to put out than to prevent.[13][14]

There are also many sources of heat. Of course, a fire already burning generates enough heat to ignite most combustible materials. This is because the rapid oxidation of material that is burning releases more heat than that which started the fire. Common open-flame heat sources include:

• Lit matches
• Fireplace lighters
• Candles
• Gas burners
• Fireplaces and fire pits
• Cooking grills (charcoal and gas)
• Bonfires and campfires
• Gas lamps
• Kerosene heaters, etc.

Some other heat sources are:

• Heating stoves
• Cooking stoves
• Electric light fixtures and other electric devices
• Internal combustion motors
• Furnaces
• Hot water heaters
• Objects which focus sunlight
• Lightbulbs (including incandescent, halogen and fluorescent)
• Space heaters

Add to the above actions or conditions which can create heat. Here are a few:

• Friction. This is the oldest method, rubbing two materials together to create enough heat to start a fire in tinder (extremely flammable material, such as sawdust, shavings, straw, or dry leaves). Matches work this way with an extremely flammable substance on the end of a stick.
• Sparks. Another ancient method of starting a fire is striking certain kinds of stones together, creating sparks to ignite tinder. Later came striking iron on a hard stone, such as flint. This is how a lighter works: a piece of iron strikes flint, igniting the fumes of a volatile flammable fluid. It is also why bronze or brass tools are used where there may be methane gas, such as in a coal mine. They don't spark when striking rock.
• Electric current. A high enough electric current through a high resistance material creates a lot of heat. This is how an electric hot plate works. Electric wires can get too hot when carrying too much current, a common cause of fires in buildings with faulty, outdated, or overloaded wiring. Electric shorts also cause fires. A natural source of high current which can start fires is lightning.
• Electric sparks. Have you ever seen a broken wire sparking from intermittent contact between the pieces? There are often burn marks left. Sparks can also be created by static electricity discharging, such as when crossing a carpeted floor and touching a doorknob during dry cold weather. These sparks can ignite flammable gasses and volatile fuel vapors. Some older electronic devices may create sparks, which is why their use was banned at gas stations.
• Chemical reactions. Decomposition releases heat. This can keep garbage buried in a landfill warm, sometimes hot. This can also create spontaneous combustion, such as when the oxidation of oil heats oily rags to the ignition point. This caused a church fire in Lawrence, Nebraska.[4] Undried hay can also undergo spontaneous combustion.

Fuel

When it comes to fuels, someone may say, "Anything can burn." This is true if it is hot enough, such as in an already disastrous fire. However, we are mostly concerned with materials that do not need thousands of degrees to ignite.

There are several materials found in churches, schools, vehicles, and homes classified as combustible. Many of these are classified as flammable since they are more easily ignited. The most common combustible materials are:

• Paper
• Cloth
• Plastics
• Wax
• String and rope
• Wood
• Dried vegetation (leaves, twigs and branches)
• Oily shrubs and trees, such as pine and cedar, etc.
• Oils, alcohol, and other flammable liquids

In planning to keep combustible items and heat separate, we need to consider what items in our places are made of them or contain them. At the same time, know the heat sources to keep them away from. This involves where items are stored and where and how they are used.

Stopping Fire Before It Starts

Let's frame this in the context of fire hazards. How do we recognize and remedy fire hazards? Also, how do we use heat safely?

Candles. Since they are open-flame items, they are obvious fire hazards. However, some persons, especially young children, may not realize the danger nor know how to control it. Children should not use or handle lit candles unless under adult supervision. Fires have been started by the flame of a candle contacting clothing or curtains.

Even older children, youth, and adults can be careless with candles. I know of an older teen who left a scented candle burning while she went to bed. During the night the candle burned down and ignited paper on the table. Fortunately, a family member was awakened by the smoke and used a home fire extinguisher in time.

When candles are put out, they need to be fully extinguished. If used candles are stored, they should be in closed, airtight, fire-proof containers. This precaution was not followed in the Orthodox Church fire in New York City.[6]

Even more caution is needed if lit torches are used, such as in a procession or a play.

The same caution goes with matches and lighters. Don't let children play with them.

Smoking. A person who is smoking is handling fire. It may be slowly burning without a visible flame, but it is still a fire. Lit cigarettes, cigars, and pipe ashes have caused many fires in beds, furniture, carpets, mulch, roadsides, and the woods. An applicable verse is Proverbs 6:27, "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?"

When there is no smoking allowed in a church, home, or school, some people will go outside for a smoke. Designate an outside area where smoking is allowed. In this area, have places where smoking materials can be safely deposited, even if it's a pail with sand.

Wiring. First, be sure that the wiring in your church, school, or home is up-to-date. This includes circuit breakers that will trip off when the current is more than the rating of the circuit. Overloaded circuits are a major fire hazard. Some kind of "electrical failure" was suspected in the Pittsburg, Cal. church fire in January.[10]

Have enough circuits for more than the expected usage. For instance, if you will be using several electric musical instruments during worship, more than one circuit may be needed for the platform, or a circuit which can safely carry the extra load.

Along this line, do not overload circuits. Label each breaker for the location of its circuit (the place with the outlets and fixtures). Know the rating for each circuit - each breaker should have its Amp rating stamped on it. If the load is too much, you should have the annoyance of a breaker tripping. Count that as a blessing. It's better than a fire.

Also, be careful with extension cords. Don't use them if they are worn or frayed. Don't run them under rugs and carpets. Don't use them with electric appliances which use more current than the rating of the cord.

Cooking and heating. Everyone knows you can't cook or heat without a heat source. Here are a few hints on cooking and heating safety:

• Don't cook with too high a heat, and don't leave items cooking unattended, except for slow-cooking dishes in an oven or in slow cookers. Even then, someone should check on them frequently. Use timers. Have a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.
• Fryers are a special concern. Have a Class K fire suppression system installed over a deep fat fryer. Have one over the range, too, in a school or church kitchen.
• Use outdoor grills, stoves, smokers, and fire pits safely. Never leave them unattended. Supervise children around them, such as when Johnny and Lucy are cooking hot dogs or roasting marshmallows.
• Never pour or spray a flammable liquid on a fire. People have been injured when this caused explosions.
• Clean the lint filters on clothes dryers before and after each use. Have exhaust vents cleaned regularly.
• Have the heating system checked, cleaned, and maintained before the heating season. Change air filters periodically.
• Space heaters are a special concern. When in use, keep them a safe distance from combustible items, especially wood and upholstered furniture, drapes and curtains, other cloth items, paper, etc. A faulty space heater caused a fire in an apartment building that killed almost 20 people.[11]

Mechanical equipment. More than 20 years ago, the fan motor in our outside air conditioning unit burned up. Smoke filled the house, which had to be vented (with fans).

Worn bushings and bearings in machinery can lead to overheating and possibly fire. Perform preventive maintenance. Repair or replace worn equipment. Lube if necessary.

Outdoor fires. Fires in the summertime are used for ambience, heat, and pest deterrence. It is nice to gather the group around a campfire in the evening. Whether a campfire or a bonfire, keep children a safe distance from the fire. Also exercise caution when using torches for lighting. For instance, don't place a torch too close to tree branches or under the edge of a fabric canopy.

Motor vehicles. Whether electric or internal combustion, motor vehicles can catch fire. Electrical components are often the culprits. Whatever the reason, a church's golf cart ignited, interrupting a Sunday morning service in Montgomery, Alabama.[5]

Keep vehicles properly maintained. Turn off electric vehicles when not in use. Park them far enough from the church building so that if one caught on fire it would not spread to the church.

Lightning. We can't prevent lightning, but we can arrest (divert) it. The church in Savannah was only one of several that have been hit by lightning.[7] be sure that one of the lightning arrestors is on the highest part of the church, usually the steeple. Also have proper grounding. This includes having the bends not too sharp, but with a wide enough bend radius to carry a large lightning bolt all the way to the ground.

Arson. Kris says that arson prevention is part of crime prevention.

• Most arson fires are started inside the church by burglars trying to cover their tracks and by vandals. Measures to control access when the church is unoccupied will prevent those kinds of arson.
• Another method of arson is lobbing incendiary devices through windows. Reinforcing the windows with strong screens, etc. will deflect both arson and idle vandalism.
• Another method of arson is exterior fires. These are usually in outside entries and against doors, but sometimes against walls, as at the church in San Francisco.[12] This is where exterior surveillance cameras and sensors triggering alarms are needed, especially when the church is unoccupied, such as at night and outside of office hours. The agency receiving the alarm should also have access to the cameras so they can see what triggered it.

Teaching Fire Prevention

Teaching fire prevention is for more than just the Safety Team. It should include as many members of the congregation as possible. Everyone has a role in fire prevention. It only takes one person's ignorance or carelessness to start a fire. For example:

• Custodians are responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of every corner in the church. They can ensure that all materials are safely stored, that trash is properly disposed, faulty light fixtures are repaired or replaced, etc.
• Office personnel can safely plug in office equipment to not overload circuits.
• Teachers can safely use electric equipment in classrooms, and keep the route to the door unobstructed.
• Church members can report fire hazards they see and follow the guidelines for safety with candles, etc.
• As Safety Team members patrol the church and the grounds, they take notice of fire hazards along the way, including items outside which can be used by vandals and arsonists.

Part of fire safety training is drills. Of course, this includes the evacuation fire drill. Plan it in October for the whole church. If the church has a school, a preschool, or a daycare center, it needs a fire drill during the week. The article "This Is a Drill": Learn by Going through the Motions has steps for planning and preparing for a fire drill.[15]

Another kind of fire safety drill is the first response fire drill. Practice R.A.C.E. (Rescue, Alert, Confine, Evacuate) - this is described in the Church Security Guide article "How to Handle Fire Safety in the Church."[16][17]

It is also good to have a fire extinguisher drill. This includes knowing the classes of fire extinguishers and what kinds of fires they are for. A possible exercise for this drill is to call out the kind of fire as you would on a radio call (such as, "Code Red! Oil burning, equipment shed") and have the student grab the right extinguisher. First put a big label on each by class: A, B, C, K.* Then repeat the exercise without the big labels so the students will recognize the different types of extinguishers as they'd normally appear in a real situation. After this, periodically ask a safety team member or other person who'd taken the fire extinguisher training, "What type of fire extinguisher would you use on a xxx fire?"

* The classes are:

• A = common combustibles: wood, paper, cloth, trash, etc.
• B = flammable liquids and gasses: gasoline, engine oil, propane, solvents, paint thinner, etc.
• C = electrical fire
• K = kitchen fire with vegetable fats and oils at high heat.

Teaching resources for fire prevention include the Safety Member Certification training module "Arson and Fire Safety," the Church Security Guide article "How to Handle Fire Safety in the Church," and the Education and Research tab on the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) website.[1][16][17][18]

Conclusion

Fire safety in the church is everyone's business. If everyone practices fire prevention at home, at school, and in the workplace, they are more likely do so in the church.

References

1. Kris, Moloney, "Arson and Fire Safety," Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, 2018 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/bundles/safety-member-certification].
2. Staff, "Fire Prevention Week," NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association), 2024 [https://www.nfpa.org/Events/Fire-Prevention-Week].
3. Simon Burge, "23 Common Causes of Fire," International Fire & Safety Journal, July 17, 2023 [https://internationalfireandsafetyjournal.com/causes-of-fire/].
4. KSNB Local 4 Staff, "Spontaneous combustion blamed for Lawrence church fire: Stain rag combustion led to fire," KSNB Local 4, October 17, 2023; Updated October 18, 2023 [https://www.ksnblocal4.com/2023/10/17/spontaneous-combustion-blamed-lawrence-church-fire/].
5. WSFA 12 News Staff, "Montgomery church damaged in Sunday morning fire," WSFA 12, July 15, 2024 [https://www.wsfa.com/2024/07/15/montgomery-church-damaged-sunday-morning-fire/].
6. Corey Kilgannon, "Candles May Have Caused Fire That Gutted Serbian Church, Officials Say," New York Times, May 3, 2016 [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/04/nyregion/candles-may-have-caused-fire-that-gutted-serbian-church-officials-say.html].
7. Courtney Rowles and Destiny Wiggins, "Lightning strike causes fire at 123-year-old Savannah church," Fox 28 Savannah, July 17, 2023, Updated July 18, 2023 [https://fox28savannah.com/news/local/savannah-central-missionary-baptist-church-fire-mcallister-street-hitch-drive-sfd-monday-afternoon-july-17-2023].
8. NBC Bay Area staff, "Pittsburg church damaged by fire," NBC Bay Area, January 7, 2024 [https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/pittsburg-church-damaged-by-fire/3415801/].
9. "Past Weather in Pittsburg, California, USA — January 2024," Time and Date [https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@5383465/historic?month=1&year=2024].
10. "Report__24002749_Secured," Contra Costa Fire Protection District, February 6, 2024 [https://cccfpd.govqa.us/WEBAPP].
11. Doha Madani and Dennis Romero, "Malfunctioning space heater blamed in Bronx fire that killed 10 adults, 9 children," NBC News, January 9, 2022, Updated January 10, 2022 [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/numerous-fatalities-anticipated-5-alarm-bronx-fire-fdny-commissioner-s-rcna11524].
12. Tara Campbell, "Suspected arson at San Francisco church shutters shelter on Good Friday," ABC 7 News (KGO), March 30, 2024 [https://abc7news.com/suspected-arson-fire-san-francisco-st-john-the-evangelist-episcopal-church-shutters-shelter-on-good-friday/14592244/].
13. Contributor, "What is Ignition Temperature?" Teachoo, no date given [https://www.teachoo.com/9925/2991/What-is-Ignition-Temperature-/category/Concepts/].
14. Leadership, "Ignition Temperature of Wood," Fire Engineering, November 1, 1949 [https://www.fireengineering.com/leadership/ignition-temperature-of-wood/].
15. WGV, "'This Is a Drill': Learn by Going through the Motions," Sheepdog Articles, Sheepdog Church Security, July 23, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=this-is-a-drill].
16. Kris Moloney, Church Security Guide, Security Articles, Sheepdog Church Security [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=church-security-guide].
17. Kris P. Moloney, "How to Handle Fire Safety in the Church," Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Church Security, November 28, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=fire-safety-in-the-church].
18. Staff, "Education and Research" tab, NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association), 2024 [https://www.nfpa.org/].