Fire can happen anywhere and the church is no exemption. As most churches are old, the risk of fire is quite high. The church is a place where people gather to hear mass or for some other church activities during the day and even at night. Most people feel safe inside the church because of what it represents. However, being too complacent can be dangerous because accidents do happen even inside the church. The one in charge or the one responsible for the church should take the necessary church fire safety measures to ensure the safety of the people who go to church as well as to protect the property itself.

According to the Fire Safety Order, fire precautions should be put in place in every building structure and its premises to keep everyone safe all year long. There should be a fire safety plan that would reduce the possibility of fire or prevent it from happening as well as getting everyone to safety. The first order of business in church fire safety is determining if the church has become a fire hazard. A fire risk assessment should be done to identify possible risks so that it can be minimized or totally eliminated. To be able to do this, you need to know how a fire starts and how to sustain it.

To create fire, you need three elements namely heat, fuel, and oxygen. As long as all three are present, the fire would continue to burn. You need to inspect the church for possible sources of these elements and make sure that there would no chance of them coming together. As mentioned above, accidents do happen and you need to be prepared for it. There should be a fire or smoke detector in place to warn the occupants of the danger. It should be inspected and serviced regularly to ensure that it would work properly during fire emergencies.

The next thing that you have to do is to identify those who are at risk. People with disabilities or people who are old may have difficulty in getting to safety. There should be a plan in place to assist them during this time. You should make a floor plan of several escape routes and make sure it is posted where people can see it. Make sure that the escape routes like hallways and corridors are not blocked. The exit doors should be unlocked and easy to get to. There should be emergency lighting and fire safety signs that would help people find their way to safety.

Church fire safety includes having the one in charge as well as the staff undergo fire training so that they would know what to do during fire emergencies. They should learn how to use firefighting devices and when to use it. There are different kinds of fire extinguishers to combat different kinds of fires. It is important that everyone should be aware of it. If you do not know what is burning, do not try to extinguish it as you may cause more damage. These extinguishers are ideal for incipient fires. Your purpose is to contain it and prevent it from spreading. You should also know when fighting the fire would be futile and that it is time for you to escape.