FEMA Tip Sheet: Protecting Houses of Worship Against Arson
In the U.S., between 1996 and 2015, 51 percent of the reported incidents at houses of worship were determined to be caused by arson, according to a recent analysis by the Pew Research Center.
Arson robs congregations of 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.
The fire service can help communities reduce the occurrence of arson and reduce its devastating effect by making residents aware of the following measures to safeguard their church, mosque, synagogue, temple or chapel.