Candle Safety Tips For Valentine’s Day & Every Day

The romantic glow of a candlelit room can generate more heat than light – unless the candles start an actual fire. Even if you’re careful with your candles, there’s still a chance that sparks will fly. These candle safety tips will help you heat up your relationship without burning down your house.

Most Home Candle Fires Start in the Bedroom

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the bedroom is a dangerous place to burn candles:  36% of candle fires start there, even though only 13% of candle users say they regularly use candles in their bedrooms. There’s a lot of flammable stuff in bedrooms, including window coverings, bedding, and assorted knick-knacks.

After all, the bedroom isn’t a place where people tend to give full attention to their surroundings. There’s other stuff to do – including sleeping.

Fires occur most often when people fall asleep and leave a candle burning. In 2012, a Whitney Houston fan in Manchester, England lit a memorial candle in the star’s memory before going to bed. The candle ignited the curtains in her living room. Fortunately, the smoke alarm woke her, and she saved herself and her three dogs. This happened on Valentine’s Day.

Candle fires cost $374 million each year in property damage and injure or kill more than 800 people each year. Don’t be the person who celebrates Valentine’s Day in the emergency room.

Source:  US Fire Administration

• CandleSafetyTips.pdf