| As an ordinary member of the church who regularly | | | | route and above children's reach. For fire |
| attends worship services, you may not have thought | | | | extinguishers safety, check its pressure once a |
| that fire might happen during the congregational | | | | month. Ask your fire extinguishers' dealer how they |
| service or what must you do in case the event of | | | | should be serviced and inspected. There are |
| fire takes place unexpectedly. | | | | rechargeable models that need to be serviced after |
| Church officials should consider church fire safety | | | | every use while disposable extinguishers should be |
| from the building's construction or renovation up to | | | | replaced after one use. Make sure to recharge or |
| its furnishings. Churches should have automatic | | | | replace it after using so that it is readily available |
| alarms, fireproof curtains, fire resistant seats, and fire | | | | when needed for your church fire safety. |
| doors. It is also advisable to appoint a fire safety | | | | Remember the fire extinguishers safety PASS |
| manager and designate their own firefighting team. | | | | procedure. |
| Prepare a disaster plan and submit it to the fire | | | | Pull the extinguisher's pin and hold it about six to eight |
| station. You should hold fire drills at least once a year | | | | feet from the fire |
| to protect your church and your members. | | | | Aim the nozzle at the base of the base |
| If your church is still using old wooden pews, better | | | | Squeeze the trigger |
| switch to fire retardant type of seats. As much as | | | | Sweep the hose of the extinguisher back and forth |
| possible, avoid seats with soft cushions since they | | | | until you completely put the fire out or until the fire |
| are less fire resistant. Chair upholstery must conform | | | | extinguisher is emptied. |
| to the fire safety guidelines. | | | | Before you begin using the fire extinguisher, make |
| Like other buildings, churches should also hold | | | | sure that everyone is leaving or has left the building |
| maximum number of worshippers attending on every | | | | and you have read the instructions and you know |
| scheduled service as authorized by the fire | | | | how to use it. Make sure also that the fire is confined |
| authorities. In case you are filling the sanctuary over | | | | only to a small area and your escape route is |
| the mark, consider having additional schedule of | | | | unobstructed. Of course, fire department should have |
| worship service to accommodate large number of | | | | been already notified. |
| attendees and for a more convenient and safer | | | | In any circumstances, it is dangerous to fight fire. |
| atmosphere. Make sure also that the people inside | | | | You may opt to leave immediately and leave |
| the church are equally distributed so that in case of | | | | everything to the authorized firefighters. Think of |
| fire, they will not fight over the same fire doors. | | | | people's lives safety above anything else. Evacuate |
| Make sure that fire doors are not blocked and are | | | | to the safest place quickly. |
| visible. Put a subtle sign enough to be noticed by the | | | | To avoid circumstances like this, make a plan for |
| people of the exit's locations. | | | | church fire safety and you will not worry! |
| Install fire extinguishers in plain view near an escape | | | | |