Candles can be beautiful and romantic. Unfortunately, they can also be deadly. Here are some safety tips to keep you and your family from being a fire statistic.

General Candle Safety

• Remember a candle is an open flame. It can ignite any nearby combustibles
• Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep
• Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g., clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations)
• Use candle holders that are sturdy, will not tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax
• Do not place candles in windows where blinds or 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
• Do not use candles when they get within two inches of the candle holder. For candles in containers, discontinue using before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt
• Keep candles away from flammable liquids
• Keep candlewicks trimmed to one-quarter inch
• Do not use candles with combustible items embedded in them
• Avoid carrying a lit candle
• Do not use a lit candle when searching for items in a confined space
• Never use a candle when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment such as kerosene heater or lantern. The candle flame may ignite the fumes

• December is the peak month for candle fires, with nearly twice the average number of incidents
• Never use real candles to decorate a Christmas tree

Kids and Candles

• Use candles only with constant adult supervision
• Keep candles up high and out-of-reach from children
• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a lit candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle
• Do not 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
• Do not put candles in a location where children or pets could knock them over

Power Outages

• Observe all of the general candle safety tips
• Try to avoid carrying a lit candle. When you carry a candle, you are carrying something that could start a fire
• Do not use a candle to go into a closet to look for things. It could easily catch items on fire
• Never use a candle for light when fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flames may ignite the fumes
• Extinguish all candles when leaving the house or going to sleep
• Flashlights and other lights generated by batteries are much safer light sources than candles

Using these simple rules, coupled with common sense, may help keep your family safe throughout the year.