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Fire Prevention Week
October 9 - 15, 2005
Use Candles with Care
Safety Tips:
Candles may be pretty to look at but they are a growing cause
of home fires—and home fire deaths. Remember, a candle is an open flame,
meaning that it can easily ignite any combustible material nearby. And because
candle fires spread so quickly, it’s essential that you have working smoke
alarms in your residence and a home
fire escape plan ready to go. Follow these tips to help you use
candles safely.
Reducing the risk
 | Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish all
candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Almost half of all home fires
started by candles begin in the bedroom. NFPA discourages the use of candles
in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
| Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that
can burn including curtains, blinds, wallpaper, clothing or any other
material that can catch fire.
| Don’t place lit candles in windows or near doorways
where drafts could bring combustibles in contact with the flame.
| Keep candles away from flammable liquids. |
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“Candle with Care”
| Use candle holders that are sturdy, won’t tip over
easily, are made from a material that can’t burn, and are large enough to
collect dripping wax.
| Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered
surface—away from edges and any place where they could be knocked over by
kids or pets.
| Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose
clothing away from the flame.
| Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch.
| Extinguish candles when they burn down to within two
inches of their holder or any decorative material.
| Extinguish candles carefully, using a long-handled
candle snuffer or a soft, directed breath. Be careful not to splatter wax
when extinguishing. Do not leave the room until wicks have stopped glowing.
| Avoid using candles during a power outage. Have
flashlights and battery-powered lighting on hand for emergency lighting. |
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Candles and kids
| Never leave a child unattended in a room with a
burning candle.
| Don’t allow kids or teens to burn candles in their
bedrooms.
| Don’t let kids play with candles or dripping wax –
or with materials that could catch fire near candles.
| Store matches and lighters up high and out of
children’s sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet. |
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For more information, please visit:
http://www.firepreventionweek.org
http://www.sparky.org
and:
Smoke
Alarm Safety Tips (includes a link on smoke alarms for the hearing
impaired)
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