There’s a special beauty and tranquility to candles, but a lighted candle is also a potential fire hazard if not carefully monitored. The winter holidays and New Year’s Eve are peak times for candle fires, so be sure to exercise caution when celebrating with open flames.
- Place lighted candles where they won’t be knocked over by children, pets or anyone else.
- Always keep burning candles within sight, and always extinguish them before leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Keep candles away from curtains, clothing, books, and other combustible items.
- Use durable candle holders that are big enough to collect wax drippings and don’t tip over easily.
- Trim candle wicks to one-quarter inch, and maintain this wick length throughout the candle’s life.
A study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests that 85 percent of candle fires could be avoided if consumers followed basic safety rules as mentioned above.
As Always - All homes should be equipped with working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.