Candle Fire Safety

Every year, candles cause fires that can destroy property, displace residents, and even claim the lives of people and pets. Most of these fires can be prevented.

Candles are part of many winter holiday traditions, including Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Historically, more candle fires occur on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day than on any other day, but people use candles all through the year. Protect yourself and your loved ones by practicing candle fire safety.

Candle safety tips

• No matter the season, have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Check the manufacturing date printed on the back, replace alarms that are more than 10 years old, and test alarms every month to be sure you’re protected.
• Place lit candles on sturdy, non-combustible saucers or candleholders. Keep anything that can burn at least one foot away on all sides.
• Always extinguish candles when you leave the room or go to sleep. Never leave a lit candle unattended.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets. Store matches and lighters up high where kids can’t access them.
• Consider switching to battery-operated flameless candles.
• Flashlights are much safer than candles during a power outage. Keep batteries on hand for emergency use.

Additional Resources

Candle Fire Safety

Candle Fire Safety, Spanish