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<br />
<br />. inaflas
<br />
<br />Structure Fires in
<br />Public Assemblies
<br />
<br />Between 1994 and 1998, there
<br />was an average of 6,000, struc-
<br />tural fires in assembly properties,
<br />with religious facilities accounting
<br />for 2,000 of the total.
<br />Public assembly properties include
<br />country clubs, fixed-use amusement
<br />places, swimming facilities, exhibition
<br />halls, arenas. theaters. studios, and reli-
<br />gious facilities. Eating and drinking
<br />establishments are considered assembly
<br />properties but are a separate category for
<br />study.
<br />Church fires were among the most
<br />costly and resulted in the highest number
<br />of civilian deaths and injuries. According to
<br />NFPA statistics, the leading cause of the
<br />fires was incendiary or suspicious. Some
<br />22 percent, or 440 of the fires, were incen-
<br />diary or suspicious.
<br />In response to the high number of
<br />church arsons, President Clinton formed
<br />the National Church Arson Task Force in
<br />1996. Between 1996 and 1999, the task
<br />force investigated 827 arsons, bombings.
<br />or attempted bombings of churches.
<br />Some 294 arrests were made, and 287
<br />defendants were convicted in connection
<br />with 206 arsons or bombings at houses
<br />of worship.
<br />NFPA's Fire Analysis and Research Divi-
<br />sion's One-Stop Data Shop at www,
<br />nfpa.org/research offers a package of sta-
<br />tistics about fires in religious properties.
<br />Although fatal fires in assembly occu-
<br />pancies are rare, the potential for loss of
<br />fife is high. Historically, the deadliest
<br />single-building fire in the United States
<br />was the Iroquois Theater fire in 1903, in
<br />Chicago, which killed 602 people.~
<br />
<br />16
<br />
<br />NFPA JOURNAL
<br />
<br />JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002
<br />
<br />Structure Fires in Religious and Funeral Properties
<br />by Major Cause
<br />Unknown-Cause Fires Allocated Proportionally
<br />1994-1998 Annual Averages
<br />
<br />Cause
<br />Incendiary or suspicious 440 22.1" 0 11.7% 3 9.8% $19.7
<br />Electrical distribution 350 17.6% 0 0,091: 5 15.2% $10.9
<br />Heating equipment 230 11.6" 1 31.8% 3 8.2% $4.5
<br />Other equipment 190 9.7% 1 28.3% 10 31.4% $6.6
<br />Cooking equipment 180 8.9% 1 28.3% 4 11.7% $0.7
<br />Open flame, ember. or torch 150 7.3% 0 0.091: 4 12.9% $3.2
<br />Natural causes . 110 5,3% 0 0.091:' 0 0,9% $5.9
<br />Appliance. tool. or air conditioning 100 4.9% 0 0,0% 1 4.3% $2.7
<br />Exposure (to other hostile fire) 90 4,4% 0 0.091: 0 0.0% $0.8
<br />Other heat source 80 4.2" 0 0.091: 2 4.7% $1.5
<br />Smoking materials 50 2.3% 0 0.091: 0 0.091: . $0.7
<br />Child playing 30 1.7% 0 0.091: 0 1.0% $0.1
<br />Total 1.990, 100.0% 2 100.091: 33 100.091: , $57.4
<br />
<br />Hottt: ThftSft are ~s reportmJ to U.S. m/llicipal fire OOpanments and so ~1udt1 fires re/lOfted only to ~1lI1 or
<br />stattt agencies or industTial ~ brigades. FileS are rounded to the nearttst ten, cMIian deaths and eMllan inftxies are
<br />expressed to the nearest one, and property damage is roundrld to the nearllSt hundred thousand doRars, Property
<br />damage figurttS /Ja1.e not been iJlfUSlBd for intIation. Thft major cause categoOOs are based on a hierarchy developed
<br />by the U.S. Fire Administration. Sums may not equal totals dut! to rounditf ttmxs.
<br />
<br />SOURCE: NationalllStimates based on NRRS and NFPA sllfVl!y.
<br />
<br />Structure' Fires' in Public Assembly Properties *
<br />1994-1998 Annual Averages
<br />
<br />Occupancy .
<br />Fixed-Use amusement lie recreation place
<br />~ ..... 4",.-")''!t.l
<br />:~. ... ~~'.iJ:
<br />VariabltHJse amusement. or recre, alion Place,' ~ , ',", ,. "
<br />iIIJ ..,. '~:}
<br />Religious or funeral property
<br />
<br />~ .l!. ''',''-':'n
<br />~ ~I .t~:k~
<br />
<br />Clw
<br />
<br />- 'l'O t3J'vm
<br />Ubraries, museums, or courtrooms
<br />~ .& ".,we, ",V,''',''
<br />~ -Y' ';.:f~~.~l~
<br />Passenger terminal
<br />- e Ot'$ii
<br />Theater or studio
<br />CJ- G ..t:~:ll
<br />Unclassified or unknown-type public assembly property
<br />_ ~ .& ,.,,;;~:...ti'~
<br />~ II(lI ~.~...;:;-,i;;'
<br />
<br />mrn:'I
<br />
<br />6,000
<br />5
<br />
<br />_ Fires
<br />., Civilian Deaths
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Civilian Injuries
<br />
<br />Direct Property
<br />Damage (mllions)
<br />
<br />99
<br />$142.5
<br />
<br />· Excluding eating and drinking establishments.
<br />
<br />Note; These are /ires reportftd to U.s. municipal "re departments and so exclude fires reported only to federal or state
<br />agencies or industrial tite brigades. Fifes are rounded to the nearest hundred, deaths and injuries to the nearest one,
<br />and direct property damage to the nearest hundred thousand dollars. Sums may not equal totals due to rounding
<br />errors. Damage hasn't been adjusted for inflation.
<br />SOURCE: National estimates based on NRRS and NFPA Sllfll!!Y.
<br />
<br />ILLUSTRATlONS: ANNIE BISSETT
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