TIPS ON FIRE SAFETY FOR CANDLE USE
Safe Candle Use
Use candle holders that
are sturdy,
won’t tip over easily,
are made from a material that can’ t burn,
are large enough to collect dripping wax.
Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface – away from edges and any place where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and loose clothing away from the flame.
Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch.
Extinguish candles when they burn down to within two inches of their holder or any decorative material.
Extinguish candles carefully, using a long-handled candle snuffer or a soft, directed breath. Do not leave the room until wicks have stopped glowing.
Candles and Holidays
During December, more candle fires start in living rooms, dens, dining rooms, and kitchens than during the other 11 months.
Keep candles away from natural and artificial Christmas trees.
Keep candles away from all holiday decorations.
Place burning candles where they can’t be bumped or brushed against.
Arrange table candles safely away from flammable centerpieces and hanging decorations.
During Power Outages
Avoid using candles for emergency lighting.
If your electrical service goes out, use flashlights and battery-powered lamps when possible.
Don’t carry lit candles.
Don’t use a candle for light when adding kerosene or any flammable fuel to a heater, lantern, or other device. The flame could ignite the fumes.
Extinguish all candles when you leave the home or go to sleep.
Candles and Children
Never leave a child unattended in a room with a burning candle.
Store candles, matches, and lighters up high and out of children’s sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Don’t allow children or teens to burn candles in their bedrooms.
Don’t let children play with candles or dripping wax – or with combustible materials near candles.
Reducing the Risk
Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
Fire experts discourage the use of candles in bedrooms, where almost half of all home candle fires start. If you must burn candles in the bedroom, keep them away from bedding, curtains and blinds, wallpaper, upholstered furniture, piles of clothing, and newspapers and magazines, and monitor them carefully.
Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn.
Keep candles away from flammable liquids.
Don’t place lit candles in windows or near doorways, where drafts could bring combustibles in contact with the flame.
All information was obtained from NFPA or by manufacturers’ recommendations.