Use
candles safely this holiday season
As the holiday season approaches many homes are festively lit with
candles. However, we at Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative caution you to use
them carefully. New data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
show that candles are becoming an increasingly prevalent cause of home fires.
Candles started fires in 18,000 homes in 2001, a 15 percent rise from 2000, and
more than triple the number in 1990.
After declining from 1980 to 1990, candle-related home fires started
increasing in 1991, and since 1995, each year has seen a new high in the number
of fires blamed on candles. In 2001, candle fires in the home were responsible
for an estimated 190 civilian deaths, 1,450 civilian injuries and $265 million
in property damage.
What
underlies this devastation? First, candles have become more popular: According
to the National Candle Association (NCA), seven out of 10 households use
candles. Second, many people don't realize how quickly something can go wrong,
and don't know the rules for safe candle use. One-third of these fires occurred
after candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled.
One-quarter occurred when combustible material came too close to the flame. And
6 percent were started by people—usually children—playing with the candle.
Even
as candle-caused fires increase, the number of home fires is dropping. So the
proportion of home fires related to candles has been growing, according to the
NFPA study. In 2001, candle fires accounted for 4.7 percent of home fires,
compared with 1.1 percent in the early 1980s.
Four
out of 10 candle fires start in the bedroom, and one in six start in common
rooms, living rooms, family rooms or dens. Nearly half the people killed by
candle fires in the home were younger than 20; children ages 5 to 9 accounted
for a disproportionate share of the victims, with a candle-fire death rate 2.5
times higher than the general population.
The NFPA offers these tips for safe candle use:
·
Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
·
Keep candles away from things that can catch fire, such as
clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, or decorations.
·
Place candles on stable furniture in sturdy holders that won't tip
over and that are big enough to collect dripping wax.
·
Don't place lit candles in windows, where they may ignite blinds or
curtains.
·
Place candles only in areas where they won't be knocked over by
children or pets.
·
Extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get within two inches
of the holder or decorative material. Extinguish votive and filled candles
before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
·
Avoid candles with combustible materials embedded in them, or with
holders or decorations that could ignite.
·
Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
·
In case of a weather related power outage keep flashlights and
extra batteries on hand rather than candles.