Fighting Firebugs

Preventing Arson

This article is based on the Safety Member Certification training module “Arson and Fire Safety v4” and the Church Security Guide article “Fire Safety in the Church” [1][2][3][4].

From the Bible –

There are a few instances of arson mentioned in the Bible. In Judges 14 and 15 we read of a threat of arson (extortion) and two retaliatory arsons (the second was also murder).

When Samson's Philistine wedding guests could not guess the answer to his riddle, they threatened to burn down his fiancé's father's house if she could not get the answer for them (14:15). She did get the answer for them, and Samson set fire to their fields in anger (15:4-5). The Philistines then retaliated by burning her father's house with her and her father inside (15:6).

Most arsons in the Bible were acts of war, and one (1 Kings 16:18) was a suicide.

Introduction –

After violent attacks, fires are the second most devastating events for churches, especially when the building is a total loss along with records and religious items. The impact is even worse if the cause of the fire is arson, because this an attack on not only the building, but also the people and the institution.

Arson has always been a weapon of those who hate a person or a group. This includes targeting of religious institutions, including places of worship. Religiously motivated arson has increased in recent years [5][6]. Therefore, it has become more urgent that churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions take measures to prevent arson.

On the Web-

Jefferson, Texas, December 9, 2025 – Police and fire department investigators suspect arson in fires at a historic black church. The same building had been vandalized two years earlier [7].

Campbell, Missouri, November 27, 2025 – A church building that had been vacant for a few years was destroyed in a fire. The congregation had moved after a previous fire. A person was arrested for arson. The building was scheduled to be renovated for a drug treatment center, and the alleged arsonist was reported as saying he would not allow that in his neighborhood [8][9].

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, November 21, 2025 – A fire destroyed a shed by the side of a church. Part of the church’s wall was damaged. The fire department believes the cause was arson [10].

Champaign, Illinois, November 24, 2025 – The pastor of a church has good reason to suspect arson in a fire that rendered the sanctuary unusable until it is cleaned and repairs are made. Someone broke a window, entered the sanctuary, and set a fire in the pulpit. Repairs can begin after the fire marshal has completed the physical investigation. Meanwhile, services are held in the fellowship hall [11].

Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 17, 2025 – A man pleaded guilty to arson. He had started fires at two mosques in Minneapolis [12].

Lake Havasu, Arizona, November 30, 2025 – The alleged arsonist in a fire at a Lake Havasu church claimed he wanted to commit suicide by cop, but chickened out after setting the fire [13].

* Synagogues are also arson targets, including one in Arizona.

Pew Research Center, October 26, 2015 – In October 2015, several predominately-black churches in the St. Louis area were attacked by arsonists. In the first half of 2015, 79 place-of-worship fires were investigated by the ATF, and 29 of them were determined to be arson. The Pew Research Center reported that half of church fires in the preceding twenty years were arson [14].

Family Research Council, 2025 – 10 years after the Pew Research Center report, the FRC issued the 2025 edition of the “Hostility Against Churches” report about incidents in 2024. Of 428 incidents, 55 (13%) were arson [5][6].

Arson as a Crime –

Preventing arson begins with general crime-prevention measures. Most arson fires are lit from inside the building or by incendiaries propelled into the building. This means that the most basic measures are the same as for preventing or deterring burglary and vandalism, and guarding against vandalism also includes outer buildings, as in Winston-Salem [10].

CPTED ––

Discouraging arson begins with keeping arsonists (a.k.a Firebugs) out. A basic means for this is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This means making the facilities more resistant to intrusion, especially when they are unoccupied. In a Worship Facility article, “Protecting Churches by Design,” Simon Osamoh says, “[H]ave you considered the role that architectural design and the layout of your building can play in fostering a safer environment?” He lists the Principles of CPTED [15]:

• Natural Surveillance
• Natural Access Control
• Territoriality
• Activity Support
• Maintenance

Principles of CPTED:

Natural Surveillance – Improve visibility.

• This can begin with trimming or removing shrubbery or other obstructions to seeing who and what is outside. Inside the building, position fixtures, furnishings, and other items for better lines of sight and eliminating places to hide.
• Use surveillance technology, including cameras and sensors with monitors and alarms. Improved lines of sight will increase the effectiveness of interior cameras. Some cameras will be concealed so that if a criminal blocks or disables one camera, he’ll still be imaged. Enable remote monitoring.

Natural Access Control – Configure walkways to guide persons to designated public entrances.

• Arsonists are likely to leave these paths to find another way in. If they do, this signals a departure from norms.
• Sturdy doors, windows, and locks will hinder forced entry. Shatter-proofing windows blocks most attempts to propel incendiaries through them. Inside screens can be added to some windows.
• Have internal barriers to deny unauthorized entry into restricted areas. Noisy alarms may motivate an intruder to leave before being caught.

Territoriality – Make it evident that the church is in control of the area.

• Outside this can be fencing. Have signs identifying the church and designated areas.
• Signage should tell that the property is being monitored.
• Signs mark public access and “No Entry” areas.

Activity Support – Burglars and arsonists are deterred when there is a crowd.

• Having community groups meet in the church or on the grounds also improves community relations.
• Have safety team members present during these events.
• A good idea is to have restrooms next to or in the activity areas so that the rest of the building can be closed off.

Maintenance – Keeping the building and grounds clean and in good condition signals that the church cares about the property.

• It also removes items that can be used by an arsonist to force entry or to light a fire.

Simon also offers

A More Simplistic Approach – Simple measures that do not cost a lot include trimming shrubs by windows and doors to remove hiding places and placing the greeting or reception desk/table in the center of the foyer/lobby. To this I’ll add a monitor in the foyer which can be seen from the door showing people coming in and going out – a kind of visible presence.

Fireproofing –

Make it hard or impossible for an arsonist to set a fire.

• This begins with the exterior. If your church is building new or re-siding the place, use fireproof or fire-resistant materials. Besides arsonists, this will also impede wildfires and vehicles fires from igniting the building.
• Reduce flammability inside the church. Some of this can be done during remodeling or damage repairs.
• Lock matches and lighters in unmarked places.
• Have reliable fire suppression systems, especially in the sanctuary.

Vigilance in Arson Prevention –

Preventing arson is not just set-and-go, relying solely on CPTED. It is also a mindset and an activity. This involves assessments, inspection, watchfulness, intelligence, and training.

Assessments:

Consider risks and prevention of arson in your church safety and security assessments.

• If you can and will, you may have a designated fire safety assessment which will cover arson.
• Include community risks of arson in assessments. This also covers vandalism and burglaries.
• Information for your locality may be available from the fire department, law enforcement agencies, the state fire marshal, and the ATF. Pay special attention to trends.

Inspection:

Safety inspections need to be done periodically for both buildings and grounds.

• Include fire extinguishers, fire hazards, and vulnerability to burglary and vandalism.
• Team members on patrol watch for fire hazards, items that can be used by an arsonist, and signs of attempts or preparations for intrusion.

Watchfulness:

Normal situational awareness should be alert for suspicious behavior leading to arson. Some of the more obvious signs include containers which may have accelerants. Like burglars, some arsonists will case the place to plan their intrusions.

Intelligence:

We need to know what’s going on. Maintain a positive relationship with the local fire department and law enforcement. You will be more likely to receive tips and warnings when there’s a firebug on the loose. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

On the other side of the equation, reporting suspected arson attempts or discovered preparations for arson will help law enforcement and fire departments in their efforts to stop arson, identify suspects, and investigate arsons. This may result in alerts to other congregations.

Training:

In safety team training, include spotting potential arsonists, identifying indications of attempted arson, reporting these discoveries, and removing fire and arson hazards.

The training module “Arson and Fire Safety v4” is a core part of Safety Member Certification. It can also be taken as a standalone course by greeters, ushers, custodians, and others [1][2].

Encourage congregational leaders to read and discuss Simon Osamoh’s Worship Facility article “Protecting Churches by Design [15].”

Conduct drills on arsonist detection and recognizing signs of attempted arson. Use actors in the first and planted items in the second. Have participants explain why they thought the person or object was suspect.

Conclusion –

Do what you can to keep firebugs (arsonists) from burning your church.

References –

1. Kris Moloney, Safety Member Certification, Sheepdog Church Security, 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/collections/courses].
2. Kris Moloney, “Arson and Fire Safety V4,” Sheepdog Church Security, © 2024 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/courses/arson-prevention-and-fire-drills-for-churches].
3. Kris Moloney, Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Church Security, 2023 at [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?c=church-security-guide], also 2018 at [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/church-security-guide].
4. Kris Moloney, “Fire Safety in the Church,” Church Security Guide, Sheepdog Church Security, June 9, 2023 [https://sheepdog-church-security.thinkific.com/pages/security-articles?p=fire-safety-in-the-church], also at [ [https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/fire-safety-and-evacuations].
5. J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, “FRC Publishes New Edition of Hostility Against Churches Report Indicating Over 400 Acts of Hostility,” Family Research Council, 2025 [https://www.frc.org/newsroom/frc-publishes-new-edition-of-hostility-against-churches-report-indicating-over-400-acts-of-hostility#gsc.tab=0].
6. Staff, “Hostility Against Churches in the United States - Analyzing Incidents from 2024,” Family Research Council, 2025 [https://www.frc.org/issueanalysis/hostility-against-churches-is-on-the-rise-in-the-united-states#gsc.tab=0].
7. Julie Parr, “Fire destroys historic East Texas church building,” KTBS December 15, 2025 [https://www.ktbs.com/news/texarkana/fire-destroys-historic-east-texas-church-building/article_c4090400-9204-44df-9dc1-a439508cb002.html].
8. By K8 Newsdesk, “Arson believed to be cause of church fire,” KFVS, November 27, 2025 [https://www.kfvs12.com/2025/11/28/arson-believed-be-cause-church-fire/].
9. Olivia Tock, “Man charged with arson in connection with Campbell, Mo. church fire,” KAIT8, Dec 1, 2025 [https://www.kait8.com/2025/12/02/man-charged-with-arson-connection-with-campbell-mo-church-fire/].
10. Brayden Stamps and Hojung Ryu, “Video: Arson suspected in Winston-Salem church fire,” FOX8 WGHP, November 21, 2025 [https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/winston-salem/video-fire-damages-church-in-winston-salem/].
11. Brianna Moreland, “Pastor suspects arson in church fire, Champaign Police seek public help with investigation,” Fox Illinois, November 24, 2025 [https://foxillinois.com/news/local/pastor-suspects-arson-in-church-fire-champaign-police-seek-public-help-with-investigation].
12. Staff, “Mosque Arsonist Pleads Guilty in Federal Court,” U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota, September 17, 2025 [https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/mosque-arsonist-pleads-guilty-federal-court].
13. Brian Petersheim, Jr., and Lauren Kobley, “Police: Suspect says Lake Havasu church arson wasn’t about religion,” AZ Family, November 30, 2025, Updated: December 1, 2025 [https://www.azfamily.com/2025/11/30/person-interest-wanted-arson-lake-havasu-city-church/].
14. Aleksandra Sandstrom, “Half of all church fires in past 20 years were arsons,” Pew Research Center, October 26, 2015 [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2015/10/26/half-of-all-church-fires-in-past-20-years-were-arsons/].
15. Simon Osamoh, “Protecting Churches by Design,” Worship Facility, March 5, 2024 [https://www.worshipfacility.com/2024/03/05/protecting-churches-by-design/].