CANDLE SAFETY

By Millie Reynolds and Liz Delahey, Home Economists

Candles are beautiful and help create a relaxing soothing atmosphere, but they can be a fire hazard. The National Fire Protection Association reports that candles were responsible for 18,000 fires in U.S. homes in 2001 marking a 15 percent increase from 2000.

Four out of 10 of the candle fires started in bedrooms. They occurred most frequently in December when 11 percent involved holiday decorations. About one third of those who died in fires were using candles because the power had been shut off.

Reduce chances of your candles starting a fire by:

• Extinguishing candles when you leave a room or go to bed
• Refraining from getting so involved in another activity such as talking on the telephone or reading that you forget about the burning candle
• Using dripless candles
• Placing candles on stable furniture in sturdy candle holders large enough to collect any wax so the candle will not tip over and start a fire
• Ensuring the candle holder is fire and heat resistant
• Placing candles away from flammable materials such as drapes, chesterfields, walls or dried out Christmas trees
• Keeping candles out of reach of children and pets so they don't get knocked over
• Keeping lighters and matches in a safe place away from children
• Trimming the candlewick to .5 cm (1/4 inch) to keep the flame small. Less soot will be created to stain the ceiling.
• Limiting the number of candles burning at one time so you can keep an eye on them
• Forbidding children from burning candles in their bedrooms
• Lighting candles in only one or two rooms to send a safety message to the children
• Preventing yourself from falling asleep while a candle is burning.

If you want to really enjoy candles, tend to all the safety factors before you light them.