Safely Burning Candles at Home Living on Long Island, residents don’t have to worry about the dry wildfire-like conditions, common in other parts of the country, but it doesn’t mean they are free from residential fires. Even on Long Island, fire damage can occur and precautions should be taken to ensure that an avoidable fire is not started in your home.
The Danger of Burning Candles - Burning fragrance or mood setting candles is a common practice that helps your home to have a soothing aroma and ambiance; however, a candle placed in the wrong location of your home can be extremely dangerous. Although the flame may seem insignificant and small, a forgotten candle can leave devastating fire damage in your Long Island home. When burning candles on a consistent basis, you should be sure that you know what precautions to take to keep your home safe. Candles cause over 10,000 residential fires a year and many of these fires result in death, injuries and thousands of dollars in fire damage. When burning a candle, take precautions to ensure that it is not close to anything combustible. Having a candle near something combustible is how over half of residential fires are started each year. If the warm flame gets too close to a combustible, it can ignite and quickly get out of control. What started as a small flame can quickly turn into a roaring fire that envelopes your home and can be devastating when all is said and done.
Safely Burning Candles in Bedrooms - The majority of candle fires are started in bedrooms. Burning candles in the bedroom is a popular way to relax and take part in aromatherapy. While burning candles in a bedroom however, the candle should be far away from any type of combustible material and you will want to ensure that there is always someone in the room with the candle. This way, the flame can be supervised throughout the time that it is burning. When you are getting ready for bed, the candle should be put out immediately. Falling asleep with a candle burning can be extremely dangerous. The majority of deaths that are caused by candle fires occur between the hours of midnight and six am. So, when relaxing in the evening candle light, make sure that you put out your candles before winding down for bed.
Avoiding Fire Damage From Candles - Another good option is to simply use a candle warmer that will still heat the candle to provide fragrance but doesn’t use any type of open flame; however, it’s safest to also turn off or unplug your candle warmers before bed, as they can become potential fire hazards as well. Candles are safest when they are in metal, glass or ceramic holders and the holder is placed in a safe area of the home. In addition, nothing flammable should ever be placed around the flame in order to avoid it turning into a roaring fire. Another danger comes from not keeping candles out of the reach of children and pets. If you remember, it was said to be the cow in a barn that kicked over a lantern and started the infamous Chicago fire. When working with candles, adults should be setting examples for children so they know exactly how dangerous candles can be. Burning candles safely is possible, but it takes extra effort, so the next time you go to light a candle, don’t forget about the steps you can take to keep your home and family safe.