Candles

December is a great month. December is also the month when most residential fires are started by candles.

Please use caution when using candles in the home. I know we all love the scented ones and all the holiday cheer they bring with them. But nothing is worse than living through a home fire especially this time of year. I once heard a claim representative say, "the only safe candle is one that has someone standing next to it watching it."

The link connected here takes you to the National Fire Protection Association web site and addresses the issue of candles in their view. Look at the top days of the year that candle fires are reported!

Look at these statistics:

• Although home candle fires fell 8% from 2004 to 2005, more than twice as many were reported in 2005 as in 1990.
• Candle fires accounted for an estimated 4% of all reported home fires in 2005.
• Thirty-eight percent (38%) of home candle fires started in the bedroom, resulting in 41% of the associated civilian deaths.
• December is the peak time of year for home candle fires. In December, 13% of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4% the rest of the year.
• More than half of all candle fires started when something that could burn, such as furniture, mattresses or bedding, curtains, or decorations, was too close to the candle.
• Falling asleep was a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of the associated deaths.
• The top five days for home candle fires were Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Halloween.

Source: NFPA's "Home Candle Fires" report by Marty Ahrens, September 2007.