Candle with care: Keep holiday fires burning safely

East Fork Fire Capt. Terry Taylor doesn't set out to be Scrooge at Christmas time, honest.

But the veteran firefighter has seen the tragic and deadly results too many times from Christmas tree and chimney fires not to sound the annual holiday warning about home safety.

This year, he's set his sights on candles.

"The top five days for home candle fires are Dec. 23, 24 and 25, New Year's and Halloween," Taylor said. "Those are the days statistically that people have candles going at various and sundry places."

Over Christmas and New Year's, Taylor said 10-12 fires caused by candles are reported regionally.

"Our regional figures cover Washoe County, Carson City, El Dorado and Placer counties at the Lake and Douglas County," Taylor said. "When you extrapolate that people don't report seven to 10 times that many fires, that makes our number 70 to 100 candle fires."

"Our region is a little bit higher because we have visitors in our hotels, renting condos. We're looking at 100 fires in five days alone occurring due to candles," Taylor said.

Taylor said 55 percent of home candle fires start because the flame is too close to other combustible materials.

"Twenty percent start because someone will say, 'Hey, let's go into town and see a movie,' and they leave the stuff burning," Taylor said. "Don't leave it unattended. Make one lap around the house before you leave and make sure all the darn things are out."

He said one-third of candle fires start in the bedroom.

"You fall asleep and leave the candle burning," he said.

Nationally, Taylor said, 166 people die from candle fires.

"With all of these statistics, they are seriously under reported," Taylor said.

He said people don't report fires they extinguish.

"In their mind, it's out," he said. "Maybe there was a fire on an end table, they threw a few glasses of water on it and they move on.

"Any one of these can become a full-fledged reportable fire in the absence of people being there to halt its progress."

Taylor said another issue with the globalization of the candle industry is the quality of glass containers.

"It's a real mixed bag in the market place as to what is safe and what's unsafe. With some votive candles, when they burn down, the glass shatters, the wax spills and that surface just becomes a big candle," he said.

Candles in heavy jars are safer, Taylor said.

"You can always put a saucer underneath it," he said. "If it does fail, the saucer catches the problem and you're not burning up the furniture."

Taylor said battery-operated, flameless candles are a safer alternative.

"There's nothing to catch on fire unless you put it too close to the fireplace," he said.

CANDLE SAFETY TIPS

- Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.

- Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.

- Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won't tip over easily.

- Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.

- Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.

- Don't burn a candle all the way down - put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.

- Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.

- Have flashlights and battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.

Source: National Fire Protection Association