This week is Fire Prevention Week, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps have teamed up to provide fire safety tips each day this week, helping to keep your families, friends, and communities safer. Please share these tips and continue to pass on the message of fire safety every day. Together we can all make a difference.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that during 2004, approximately 17,200 house fires were caused by candles. As a result, the candle fires led to an estimated 200 deaths, 1,540 injuries, and a direct property loss of $200 million. Below are some guidelines to follow in order to use candles safely.

Candle Safety

• Place candles in sturdy, nonflammable holders (metal, glass, ceramic) that are large enough to collect dripping wax.
• Always keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
• Always attend burning candles. Extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Do not carry a lit candle during a power outage; use a flashlight instead.
• Keep candle wicks trimmed to ¼ inch and extinguish when the flame gets too high. Once the candle cools down, re-trim the wick to ¼ inch. This keeps the candle burning slower and with less smoke.
• Do not use lighted candles on or near a Christmas tree.
• Consider using flameless candles. This alternative to traditional candles allows you to enjoy the glow of a real candle without the hazards of smoke, melting wax, or fire. Battery-powered flameless candles can be practically indistinguishable from real candles to the casual observer, with options including real wax, flickering glow, and a variety of pleasing scents.