Holiday Fire Safety
Christmas Trees |
Candles | Entertaining/Cooking | Decorating
| Chimneys
Candle with Care
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home
candle fires have nearly tripled since the early 1990's. In 1999 alone,
the most recent year data is available, a reported 15,040 candle fires
occurred in homes nation-wide. To compare, in 1990, 5,460 home fires
were attributed to candles.
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).
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