Fire Prevention Week Tip of the Day

This week is Fire Prevention Week, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps have teamed up to provide fire safety tips each day this week, helping to keep your families, friends and communities safer. Please share these tips with your family & friends. Together we can all make a difference.

The NFPA reports that candle fires account for an estimated 5% of all home fires. In 2002, candles were the cause of 18,000 reported home fires, resulting in 130 civilian deaths, 1350 civilian injuries, and an estimated $333 million in direct property loss. Candle safety was the theme of last year’s Fire Prevention Week. Learn more about Fire Prevention week at http://www.firepreventionweek.org/.

Candle Safety Tips:

Place candles in sturdy, nonflammable holders (metal, glass, ceramic) that are large enough to collect dripping wax.
Always keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
Always attend burning candles. Extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.
Do not carry a lit candle during a power outage; use a flashlight instead.
Keep candle wicks trimmed to ¼ inch and extinguish when the flame gets too high. Once the candle cools down, re-trim the wick to ¼ inch. This keeps the candle burning slower and with less smoke.
Do not use lighted candles on or near a Christmas tree.
Consider using flameless candles. This alternative to traditional candles allows you to enjoy the glow of a real candle without the hazards of smoke, melting wax, or fire. Battery-powered flameless candles can be practically indistinguishable from real candles to the casual observer, with options including real wax, flickering glow, and a variety of pleasing scents.