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Warning given over candle safety
The long winter evenings and the approach of Christmas mean that more and
more people are lighting candles in their homes.
In previous years, Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service has been called to
numerous fires caused by candles that have been left unattended, and there have
already been several incidents this year.
The following advice will help you to reduce the risks that come with using candles:
- Put your candles on a heat-resistant surface, and be especially careful with night
lights and tea lights, which get hot enough to melt plastic - TVs are not fire-resistant objects.
- Make sure candles are held firmly upright by the holder so they won't fall over; the
holder needs to be stable too, so it won't fall over either.
- Don't put candles near curtains, or other fabrics or furniture - and keep them out of draughts.
- Don't put them under shelves - make sure there's at least one metre (three feet) between a
candle and any surface above it.
- Keep clothes and hair away from the naked flame - if there's any chance you could forget a
candle is there and lean across or brush past it, put it somewhere else.
- Candles should always be sited out of the reach of children and away from areas that pets can get into.
- Leave at least four inches (10 cms) between any two candles.
- Extinguish candles before moving them and don't let anything fall into the hot wax, like matchsticks.
- Don't leave candles burning – you should extinguish candles before you leave a room; never go to sleep
with a candle still burning, and never leave a burning candle or oil burner in a child's bedroom.
- Use a snuffer or a spoon to put out candles, as blowing them can send sparks and hot wax
flying, and double-check that they’re completely out and not still smouldering.
- Don’t drop any match used to light a tea light into or onto the holder. This can produce an
increase in the effect of the wick, increasing the burning and temperature of the tea light
beyond that which it was designed to take.
Group Manager Alan Harper, from Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety department,
said: “Candles seem like harmless fun, something that will brighten up a room or create an atmosphere, but
if you don’t take the proper care, they can destroy your home. It only takes a few seconds to be
absolutely sure that a candle is safe, so please do follow our advice.”
For a range of home fire safety tips, visit
www.wiltsfire.gov.uk
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