Candle with Care

Candle Safety

Candles may be pretty to look at but they are a cause of home fires — and home fire deaths.

Consider using flameless candles in your home.

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.
Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns.
Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
Blow out candles when you leave a room or home, or when you go to bed.
Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
Do not use lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas
Never use a candle if medical oxygen is used in the home.
Use a snuffer or gently blow out the flame—do not use water, which can cause hot wax to splatter.
Double-check the wick to ensure it is fully extinguished.
Do not touch or move the candle until the wax has completely cooled.
Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.
A home should have smoke alarms on every level, outside each sleeping area and inside each bedroom. For the best protection, interconnect the alarms, so when one sounds, they all sound. Test all smoke alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button. Replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.
Plan and practice a home fire escape drill that includes two ways out of every room and an outside meeting place.

Did You Know??

🕯️ December is the peak month for home candle fires.

🕯️ More than one-third of home candle fires started in the bedroom.

🕯️ Three of every five candle fires start when things that can burn are too close to the candle.

🕯️ On average, 20 home candle fires are reported each day.

Source: National Fire Protection Association

Children and Candles

Candles should be out of the reach of children and pets.

Matches and lighters should be stored out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet.

Young children should never hold a lit candle. Consider providing battery-operated candles for children.

A parent should decide when a child is mature enough to light a candle with adult supervision.

Religious Candle Safety

Lit candles are used in religious services, in places of worship, and in the home. Whether you are using one candle or more, make sure you take a few moments to learn about using candles safely.

Candles should be placed in a sturdy candle holder.
Handheld candles should not be passed from one person to another at any time.
When lighting candles at a candle lighting service, have the person with the unlit candle dip their candle into the flame of the lit candle.
Lit candles should not be placed in windows where a blind or curtain could catch fire.
Candles placed on, or near tables, altars, or shrines, must be watched by an adult.
If a candle must burn continuously, be sure it is enclosed in a glass container and placed in a sink, on a metal tray, or in a deep basin filled with water.
Places of worship should be equipped with a fire detection and sprinkler system.