HomeMy WebLinkAboutCandle Safety
CANDLE FIRE SAFETY
Candles may be pretty to look at but they are a cause of home
fires and home fire deaths. Remember, a candle is an open
flame, which means that it can easily ignite anything that can
burn.
“CANDLE WITH CARE”
Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall
asleep.
Think about using flameless candles in your home. They look and smell
like real candles.
Keep candles out the reach of children and pets.
If you do burn candles, make sure that you...
Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily.
Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.
Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the
holder or container.
Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.
Trim candlewicks to ¼ inch (5-7mm) each time before burning.
Control the hot wax pooling and keep wax pool away from combustibles.
Candles should be used in well ventilated rooms and avoid small or tight spaces.
Never touch or move a burning candle or the liquid pool of wax.
Use a candle snuffer to extinguish the candle. Always make sure the candle is
completely out before leaving it unattended.
Keep the candle a minimum of 3 inches (76.2mm) away from other candles.
Never use a candle as a night light.
Use caution when candles are being used during a power outage. Better still have
flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage.
“Candles & Kids”
Never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle. Keep matches and lighters up
high and out of children’s reach, in a locked cabinet.
Facts - Roughly one-third of home candle fires started in the bedroom.•
More than half of all candle fires start when things that can burn are too close to the
candle. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
← 1 Ft.→ ← 1 Ft. →
← 0.30m → ← 0.3m →
December is the peak time of the year for home candle fires.
In Alberta in 2012 42 Home Fires were started by Candles resulting in
$3,478,952.00 in damages.
Now you know the facts, so if you are going to use candles follow the above tips and
remember that “Safety is an Attitude”.
Keith R. Martin
Manager of Fire & Emergency Services
County of Newell
Rev. November 20, 2014