Candle safety

Candles cause fires, use carefully

When used, candles and scented burners are naked flames and should be treated with great care.

The recent rise in the popularity of candles and scented burners around the home has increased the risk of fire and accidents in the home. The majority of these accidents happen because candles and burners are placed too close to flammable objects such as curtains, bedding and clothing etc.

You can greatly reduce the risks by following this simple advice:

Never
- leave a candle or burner unattended.
- lean across a candle
- play with candles
- use outdoor candles indoors
Remember to extinguish candles and burners before you go to sleep.
Make sure the candle is standing upright and is firmly fixed in a proper holder that will not fall or get knocked over easily.
Always
- place candles on a heat-resistant surface
- leave at least 10cm (4 inches) between two candles and never place them under shelves or other surfaces
- extinguish the candle before it burns into the holder
- follow any manufacturer’s instructions on your candles and scented burners
- make sure they're complete out - not smouldering.
Keep candles and burners
- out of draughts
- well away from curtains, furniture, drapes and sources of direct sunlight
- away from Christmas trees, plants, flowers or foliage
- out of reach of children and pets
- away from hair and clothing.

A leaflet on candle safety is available from the 'Fire Kills' website - download leaflet