COLLEGE STATION Candles are a holiday tradition. Imagine a Christmas scene snow-covered houses, carolers, smiling families, piles of presents and chances are it is lit by candle glow.
But every year the nation’s heart is broken by reports of house fires during the holiday season fires that rob families of their goodwill, their homes or possibly even their lives.
Many of these fires are caused by candles ironically, the same candles that are such a tradition in holiday decorations.
Janie Harris, housing and environment specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, said during December the heart of the annual holiday season about twice as many fires are reported to have been caused by candles than in the rest of the year.
“My guess is there are a lot more fires caused by candles than are reported; they are probably the fires that people put out and so didn’t report,” she said.
Why so many more candle fires reported in December? Because so many people use candles as part of their holiday home decorations. And, even though the safest candles are the unlit ones, as Harris said, “Why have candles if you’re not going to light them?”
With that in mind, candle safety becomes of paramount importance all year, but especially during the holidays.
“If you’re going to have candles, you need to make sure they are in a container that is fire retardant or fire proof,” Harris said. Candles that are in class containers especially those with fitting lids are among the safest kind, she added.
But any time an open flame is burning, the danger of fire exists. That’s why Harris advised some safety precautions to keep in mind during the holiday season or whenever candles are burning.
First, keep them out of the reach of children or pets. But that’s not enough, since accidental bumps can be caused by adults too. Burning candles should never be placed on end tables or other areas where they might accidently be knocked over by someone reaching for something else, she said.
Also, keep burning candles out of window sills or any other place where a curtain or other fabric item could be blown or fall into the flame. “Don’t place them in the window or near fabric or material,” she said. A sudden and unexpected gust of wind even a shift in air current caused by someone walking by is enough to drop a curtain into a candle’s flame.
If using tall tapers on a holiday dinner table, make sure they are fitted tightly into the candle holders, and have an inch or so “safety zone” around each one.
Keep the wicks trimmed to about one-quarter inch to one-half inch above the top of the candle, she continued, in order to keep the candle’s flame shorter and less likely to cause damage.
Don’t wrap presents near a burning candle. Holiday wrapping paper, boxes, ribbons and cards are not fire-resistant.
And never, never leave a burning candle unattended. Keep in mind, Harris said, that candles in and of themselves aren’t necessarily the problem it’s the improper use of candles that causes fires.
And that’s why making sure candles are well protected and attended can help make the holidays happier and safer.
-30-