Candle Fires on the Rise

A relaxing soak, an elegant dinner party or a room with candle lit ambiance could easily go up in smoke – if you forget about candle safety.

The Lisle-Woodridge Fire District’s Fire Prevention Bureau wants to warn its residents that there are twice as many home candle fires in December than any other month of the year.   Home candle fires account for civilian deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars in direct property damage.  Candle fires represent a continued yearly increase while other causes of home fires have steadily decreased.

According to the National Fire Prevention Association nearly 75% of candle fires are caused by lighted candles left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled.  Of these fires, 40% are caused by candle flame being too close to combustible objects.  Additionally, almost half (44%) of home candle fires start in the bedroom.

Although consumers think jar type candles do not need as much space as pillar or votive candles, facts show the majority of jar candle fires were caused by placement of the jar too close to combustible objects.    Approximately 25% of candle fires caused by being too close to combustibles or being knocked over occurred when someone was present.

Consumers also assume that their candleholders are safe and do not expect them to break and catch fire.  However, there are NO STANDARDS for glass candle containers and although some are made with tempered glass that can withstand high temperatures, others are not and a study shows 3% of the fires started when the holders broke; all of which were made of glass.

The Lisle-Woodridge Fire Prevention Bureau recommends the following simple precautions aimed at preventing home candle fires.

• Burn candles inside a 1-ft. circle of safety, free of anything that can burn.

• Extinguish candles after use and before going to bed or leaving the room.

• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.  Don’t allow children and teens to have candles in their bedroom.

• Use sturdy metal, glass or ceramic candleholders that will not tip.

• Place candles only on uncluttered surfaces.

• Avoid candles with combustible items embedded into them.

• Keep wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and 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 one-half inch of wax starts to melt

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.

• Do not place candles in windows where blinds and curtains can close over them.

• Never place lit candles on your holiday tree.

• Keep clothes and other flammables away from the flame.

• Warn children about the dangers of matches, candles and other flames.

• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle.

• Try to avoid carrying a lit candle. 

• Do not use a lit candle when searching 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 will ignite the fumes.

• Keep all matches, candles and lighters out of children’s sight and reach.

Following these simple safety hints will help you have a safer holiday season.

For more fire prevention and life safety information, call the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Prevention Bureau at 353-3030.