Candle Safety During the Holidays

There is just something magical about a lit candle. Perhaps it is because we no longer have to use them as a source of light, so they have become a special occasion treat for us to enjoy. Maybe it’s because they completely change the look and feel of a room when we do use them.

Regardless of why we are drawn to their hypnotic flame, when we use them we have to remember that they are still controlled fire. And if we want this fire to remain controlled, we have to use candles safely and with an extra dose of common sense.Keep Candles LevelNever try to place a candle on any surface that is not wider than the candle and is not completely flat. Placing a candle in a spot that has either of these two characteristics increases your chance that the candle will fall over or be easily knocked off.If the candle does go over, the wax will get all over your floor and anything else in the vicinity. If you are lucky the spilling wax will put out the flame, if you aren’t lucky you could have a fire on your hands.Keep Candles Up HighPets and little children don’t understand that candles are dangerous. All they know is that the candle looks pretty and they want to investigate.Unfortunately, this curiosity can lead to the pet or child burning themselves. It can also lead to the candle being knocked over when they get scared and try to get away from the candle after it hurts them.To prevent injury to them and a fire from being accidentally started, keep candles out of their reach. And with children, teach them as soon as they are old enough to understand that it is dangerous to touch or play with a candle.Keep Candles Away From the Window

Your windows are one of the most dangerous places to put a candle. First, the window sill is not a stable enough of a place for a candle to sit without danger of falling over. Second, a breeze coming through an open window can push an unstable candle over or can bend the flame of a candle to a place where it heats something else up and starts a fire.

Third, your window treatments make excellent fire starters when they are hanging over a candle flame. And finally, the smoke that comes up and off a candle will blacken the glass of your window.So find a safer place for your candle to burn and if you really enjoy having a candle in the window, think about using a flameless one.