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Safety with Candles
Safety with Candles
Community Fire Safety Operational Guide Participant Guideline
Safe Use of Candles in Your Home
- Always ensure your candles are placed in a sturdy and fireproof container designed for candle use, preferably one made of glass or metal.
- The candle holder should be large enough to catch all dripping and melting wax from the candle.
- Always place the candle holder on a sturdy and heat-resistant surface and ensure it is out of reach of little hands and four-legged friends.
- Never touch a burning candle, and never attempt to move a candle when the wax is liquid or when the candle is still burning.
- Ensure your candle is completely extinguished and the wick has stopped glowing before you leave the room where the candle is located.
- Be extremely cautious when using candles during power outages. Never use a candle as a light source in closets or to assist with fueling equipment such as generators or oil lamps.

Five Quick Tips
- Make sure there is plenty of clearance above and around your candles before lighting them.
- Each time before you light any candle, trim the candle wick to ¼ inch in length.
- If a candle smokes or flickers excessively, or the flame burns extremely high, extinguish the candle and let cool down. Then trim the wick to ¼ inch and relight.
- The easiest method of extinguishing a candle is to use a candle snuffer.
- Never extinguish a candle with water, as the water can cause the hot wax to splatter. You also can cause glass containers to break.
Candle Placement
- Keep cnadles at least 12 inches (30 centimeteres) from anything that can burn.
- Never place a candle near anything that could potentially catch on fire, particularly bedding, draperies, paper and decorations, or on a carpeted surface.
- Never place a burning candle in greenery, such as table decorations, wreaths or a Christmas tree.
- Never place a candle on a fireplace hearth or shelf where there is something hanging above, such as a picture or wreath.
- Never place a candle near play areas for children or four-legged friends.
- Place candles in areas that are away from vents, ceiling fans and drafty areas where items could be blown into the flame.
Battery-Powered Candles
- Battery-powered candles are safe, cool and flameless.
- Consider investing in batterypowered candles for your decoration needs.
- Battery-powered candles come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and give the appearance of a traditional candle.
- Many battery-powered candles are rechargeable, providing a lifetime of use for a minimal investment.
Check your candles
one minute after you
blow them out to
ensure they have
not reignited.
“Smoke Alarms and Exit Drills in the Home...A Plan You Can Live With”