Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Candle Safety Week this month, from 14-20 October.
As the weather begins to cool and the nights draw in, candles can be a welcome addition to any home. However, if you’re using candles you need to make sure that you have the appropriate safety measures in place.
Candles are one of the biggest causes of domestic fires and result in around 300 casualties a year*, but by following a few simple safety tips you can ensure that you and your loved ones can enjoy the autumn evenings safely:
- Make sure that when in use, candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains.
- Children should not be left alone with lit candles.
- Put candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they’re put out completely at night.
- Burn candles in a well-ventilated room, but avoid drafts, vents or air currents. This will help prevent rapid or uneven burning, sooting and excessive dripping.
- Don’t move candles once they are lit.
- Do not burn several candles close together as this might cause flaring (mainly with tea-lights).
- Use a snuffer or a spoon to put out candles. It’s safer than blowing them out when sparks can fly.
Additionally, you should make sure that you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home so that, if there were to be a fire, you would have an early warning, giving you time to escape. Test your smoke alarms regularly to ensure that they are still working. Make sure that everybody in your household knows and regularly practises your escape routes.
Steve Leonard, Station Manager, said: “The autumn period can be a great time to relax in the evenings with family and friends, but candles can be a real fire hazard. However, by following our safety advice, like making sure candles are kept out of the way of flammable materials and snuffing them out before you leave a room or go to sleep, you can really reduce your risk of an accident.”
For more safety tips around celebrating safely, please visit: rbfrs.co.uk/celebrating-safely
