Using Candles in Your Home

With the colder seasons coming, more people will be using candles in the home. Candles can make any home cozier. At the same time, it’s important to remember how to safely use them. Each year, thousands of fires in homes are started because of candles. This leads to loss of property, and even more unfortunate, lives. 

Before lighting a candle, trim the wick to about 1/4 inch so the flame doesn’t go too high. If using a match to light the fire, be sure to not throw it immediately into the trash while warm. Items in your trash, especially if flammable, can catch fire. Run the match under water or allow it to cool on a flame-resistant surface. 

Do not leave candles unattended. Only light candles in rooms where there are people present. Then, if something was to catch on fire, or perhaps your kid or pet knocked the candle over, it would be obvious before it got out of hand. 

Make sure your candle is on a stable surface. Also, keep it away from drafty windows that might blow the flame. 

Completely extinguish the fire before leaving your home or going to bed. Never leave a candle burning unattended.