Candle Safety Tips

Candles have been used as a method of home lighting for centuries. Although the past hundred years has seen electric light bulbs overtake candles as the main lighting source in our homes, millions of candles are sold every year, especially for Chanukah.

Unfortunately, lit candle use is also the cause of many preventable home fires. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates that there are more than 15,000 home candle fires every year, many resulting in injury or even death. More than half of these fires start because the candles are too close to combustible materials, which is something that can be easily preventable. Here are a few candle safety tips to review before you light your next candle:

1.

Burning candles should never be left unattended.

3.

If your candle is in a candle holder, it should be sturdy enough to avoid being easily knocked over.

2.

Keep candles away from anything flammable.

4.

Candles should be placed where children can’t reach them.

5.

The National Candle Association recommends that candlewicks be trimmed to ¼ inch each time before burning. Long wicks can cause uneven burning and dripping.

6.

Keep the pool of wax in the candle clear of debris such as wick trimmings.

7.

Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for candle use. Most candles should be burned for only a couple of hours at a time.

8.

Extinguish candles with a candle snuffer rather than blowing them out, as hot wax can splatter.

Finally, any talk of candle safety is incomplete without a reminder to check all smoke alarms in your home. Working smoke alarms greatly increase your chances of surviving a home fire, so check them every month to ensure they are working properly. Wishing you and your family a lechtigen, yet SAFE Chanukah!