Candles can be beautiful and romantic. Unfortunately, they can also be deadly. Here are a few safety few tips to keep
you and your family safe:

  • Remember: A candle is an open flame. It can easily ignite any combustibles nearby!
  • Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
  • Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees,  
    flammable decorations).
  • Use candleholders that are sturdy, will not tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn and are
    large enough to collect dripping wax.
  • Do not place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.
  • Place candleholders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be
    knocked over by children or pets.
  • When purchasing or using candles, consider what would happen if the candle burned low. Could it burn the
    candleholder or decorative material nearby? Extinguish candles when they get within two inches of the holder or
    decorative material.
  • Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
  • Keep candlewicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within
    two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votives and containers should be extinguished before the last
    half-inch of wax starts to melt.
  • Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them. Try to avoid carrying a lit candle. Do not use a lit
    candle when searching for items in a confined space.
  • Never use a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or
    lantern. The flame may ignite the fumes.

Holidays and Candles
  • December is the peak month for candle fires, with nearly twice the average number of incidents.
  • Never use real candles to decorate a Christmas tree. Open flames from candles often lead to fire.
  • Follow all the general safety tips listed above.

Kids and Candles
  • Use candles only with constant adult supervision.
  • Keep candles up high out of reach of children.
  • Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
  • Do not allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
  • Store candles, matches and lighters up high and out children's sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
  • Do not put candles in a location where children or pets could knock them over.
Candle Safety
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Summit Fire District
Fire Departments don't succeed, people do.
Administrative Office - Station 32
8905 N. Koch Field Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, 928-526-9537 Office, 928-526-2750 Fax, sfd@summitfiredepartment.org