A church fire is one of the most challenging, resource-intensive, and dangerous responses. The buildings themselves can vary greatly in size, age, and construction. They can range from the 200-year-old, Gothic-style, heavy-timber structure to the more modern contemporary-style building constructed of all lightweight building materials. In either case, it is critical for the fire officer to anticipate the difficulties presented by all types and styles of churches and to prepare for a difficult operation. The focus in this article is on the larger, heavy-timber church. History has shown that this type of structure has provided the greatest challenges related to loss of life and property over the years.
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