Candles can lift our spirits, yet they can easily result in disaster. All too often, fatal fires caused by candles make headlines. In Massachusetts not long ago, two children died after a candle ignited a plastic bathtub. During Hurricane Floyd, two Maryland boys died after a child dropped a lit candle on his bed. In Pennsylvania, unlawful tenants using a candle started a fire that killed four people.
In 2001, home candle fires killed 190 people and caused more than a quarter million dollars in property damage in the U.S., according to the latest data from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). That data also shows that candles started more reported home fires in 2001 than at any point since 1980, the first year of available data.
Tragedies like these happen every day, and Windsor Locks is no exception. This loss of life and property is staggering, but there is much that you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. That’s why I’m writing this article. As your fire chief, I want you to recognize this danger and learn the ways you can prevent a candle fire in your home.
Used safely, candles can fill our homes with fragrance and create a calming and welcome mood. They add glow to the holidays and are an important part of religious observances. But what you may not realize is how easily a fire can start when a candle is left unattended or left burning while someone sleeps.
Like a lit cigarette or a pan on a stove, a burning candle without human supervision is a disaster waiting to happen.
Why are we seeing so many candle fires? Well for one thing, the popularity of candles is soaring. Americans are buying $2 billion worth of candles every year, and you can now find candles in 7 out of 10 households across the country. A typical manufacturer offers between 1,000 and 2,000 specific varieties of candles!
The most important thing to remember here in Windsor Locks is that you can make sure candles are used safely in your home. If you use candles in your home, follow this safety advice:
Our department is joining forces with NFPA during Fire Prevention Week – “Use Candles With Care - When you go out, blow out!” October 9-15, 2005 – to raise awareness of important causes of home fires and the steps people can take to avoid them. Candle safety is one of our top fire safety priorities here in Windsor Locks, during Fire Prevention Week and all year long.
If you use candles in your home, please “candle with care.”
Windsor Locks Fire Department
http://www.wlfd.com/article.php/candle_safety