Facts and Figures:

• Candle fires reached a 19-year high of 12,540 in 1998, resulting in 157 deaths, 1,106 civilian injuries, and $176.1 million in property damage.

• Unattended, abandoned, or inadequately controlled candles are the leading cause of home candle fires (37%), followed by leaving candles too close to combustibles (19%). Children playing with candles started nine percent of candle  fires.

• December is the peak month for candle fires, with nearly twice the average number of incidents.

• Almost half (44%) of candle fires in the home start in the bedroom.

Safety Tips:

• Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.

• Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing, books, magazines, papers, and flammable decorations).

• Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a materials that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.

• Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.

• Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.

• Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.

• Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives in containers should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.

• Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.

Kids and Candles:

• Keep candles up high, out of the reach of children.

• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not stay in a room with a lit candle.

• Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.

• Store candles, matches, and lighters up high and out of children's sight and reach preferably in a locked cabinet.

Candles and Power Outages:

• Try to avoid carrying a lit candle. Don't use a lit candle when searching for items in small spaces (e.g. closets, cupboards, and dressers).

• Never use a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or while adding fuel to equipment, such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flame may ignite the fumes.

• It is always safer to use battery-operated light sources like flashlights and battery operated lanterns.