Candle Safety

In 1999, 102 people were killed, and another 1,473 were injured in candle-caused fires. Losses totaled $278 million dollars in direct property damage.

Candle Safety Tips

• NEVER leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (i.e., clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations).
• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.
• Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
• Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
• Keep candle wicks trimmed to ¼-inch above the wax or gel surface.
• Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two-inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and containers should be extinguished before the last ½-inch of wax starts to melt.
• Avoid candles with combustible items imbedded in them.

Candles & Children

• Keep candles up high out of reach of children.
• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
• Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
• Store candles, matches and lighters up high and out of children's sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.

During Power Outages

• Try to avoid carrying a lit candle. Don't use a lit candle when searching for items in a confined space.
• Never use a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern; the flame may ignite the fumes.

Gel Candles
Over the past few years the safety of gel candles has come into question. Penreco, a manufacturer of gels used in candles, cautions that gel burns hotter than wax. Too much heat can shatter a glass candleholder or container and make it more likely that nearby combustibles will be ignited, resulting in a room fire. As with any heat or flame-producing device, consumers should use caution and follow the tips listed below.

Added precautions for gel candles

• Never burn a gel candle for more than four hours.
• Never burn the last inch of a candle.
• Keep candles away from drafts, vents and flammable objects.
• Keep matches and other debris out of the candle.
• Do not move a glass container when the candle is burning and/or the gel is liquid.
• Extinguish the flame if it burns too close to the container walls.
• Extinguish a candle that smokes (check instructions before re-lighting).

For further information about candle safety, click on the following links

• National Fire Protection Association, Candle Safety
• Penreco Product Bulletin, Safety Factors: Clear Gel Candle Formulations (pdf)