Avoiding Candle FiresAvoiding Candle Fires Recent statistics show that residential candle fires cause $390 million in direct property damage annually. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of Homeland Security, candles are responsible for an estimated 23,600 residential fires, 1,525 injuries, and 165 fatalities annually. Most fires result from errors, negligence, and misuse. These fires often occur when candles are left unattended. Unsupervised candles cause 21 percent of the fires; another 12 percent occur when the user has fallen asleep. Fifty-five percent of the fires in recent years have involved candles that were placed too close to combustible materials. Another 24.6 percent of the fires have been attributed to abandoned or discarded materials and to the misuse of products or materials. Except for the Christmas holiday season, furniture, curtains, cabinetry, and bedding lead the list of combustible materials first ignited by candles. In December, it is holiday decorations. Bedding and mattress fires account for about 27 percent of candle-related deaths. One out of four deaths has been associated with falling asleep. Thirty-eight percent of candle fires begin in the bedroom although only 13 percent of all candles are used in bedrooms. Candles are placed more frequently in the living room or family room than in any other room in the home, an estimated 42 percent – nearly 16 percent of the candle fires start in those rooms, but they cause more than one-third of the fatalities. About 15 percent of candle fires occur in the bathroom, and about eight percent in the kitchen where about 18 percent of candle usage occurs. Although there are more candle fires in December and January than any other months (24 percent of the candle fires occur in that period), there is only a slight dip in the rate during the warmer months. Candle fires are a year-around occurrence. Women are the principle buyers of candles (96 percent); they buy about $2 billion in candles each year. Women are also the most likely to be injured or killed in residential structure candle fires. The overall injury rate per 100 candle fires is 9.86 and the death rate is 0.66. Interestingly, more than 75 percent of residential candle fires do not spread beyond the room of origin. Damage, however, averages $20,000 per residence. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has instituted approximately 70 recalls in the past decade. Among the reasons for the recalls are flammable candleholders, excessive flame height, excess wax pooling, and flammable decorations or candleholder paint. Candles can be burned safely. The Massachusetts State Fire Marshall’s “Candle Circle of Safety” program recommends:
Additionally, the National Candle Association suggests candle users trim candlewicks to ¼ inch before igniting; place the candleholder on a stable, heat-resistant surface; keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings and matches; keep burning candles away from drafts, vents, and fans; and extinguish the candle before it comes too close to the candleholder (1/2 inch minimal). The Association further recommends that candles only be burned in a well-ventilated room, that the user extinguish the candle if it smokes or flickers repeatedly or if the flame becomes too high, and that the candle be completely extinguished – no glowing wick before the user leaves the room or goes to sleep. The National Fire Protection Association discourages the use of candles in bedrooms where there are many combustibles and where almost half of all home candle fires start. The NFPA adds:
Fire is not the only danger associated with candles. Emergency rooms report many incidents of lacerations from sharp or broken candleholders, thermal burns, and scald burns from hot wax. There have been many eye and face injuries and incidents of hair catching on fire when candles are blown out. Many of the injuries could have been prevented if the person had used a candlesnuffer to extinguish the flame. Loss of power is one of the leading reasons people use candles. According to the NFPA, in 1997 and 1998, about one in every three candle-related fire fatalities occurred during a power failure or when the electricity had been shut-off. We recommend that before you burn a candle, you test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in the immediate or adjacent areas to be certain that they are functioning. Be candle smart. © 2007 InsWorld.com, Inc. http://www.insworld.com |
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