Fires in U.S. Houses of Worship: Factual Overview (1996–2024)

Across the United States, roughly 1,300 fires occur each year in churches and other houses of worship, according to data from the U.S. Fire Administration. Federal and independent analyses show that a significant portion of these incidents are deliberately set, with past studies finding between one-quarter and one-half classified as intentional. While many churches lack modern fire-prevention systems such as sprinklers or alarms, the full national scope of church fires remains difficult to measure due to incomplete reporting and differing local investigations.