Candle Fire Safety Week: Using candles safely in the home

COVID-19 restrictions have caused everyone to spend more time indoors, inspiring many of us to make our homes more comfortable and enjoyable places to be. One way that people have done this is with scented candles, the market of which is growing in spite of the pandemic pressures facing most industries. While candles can bring relaxation to a home, if not managed correctly, they can also cause its destruction and endanger the lives within. It’s Candle Fire Safety Week (12-18 October), so here, we discuss candle placement and distance, the importance of smoke alarms, and what to do in the event of a home fire.

Positioning your candles

If you think it couldn’t happen to you, you should consider there have been over 700 casualties of candle fires since 2018. No one expects an emergency; they just experience it. Below, we highlight some important reminders for safe candle placement and distance:

• Position your candles on a stable surface somewhere they will not be accidentally knocked over.
• Don’t place candles near flammable objects such as bedding, curtains or paper.
• If you have several candles, you should position them separately in safe places. Keeping candles in proximity can cause the flames to flare and grow in size.
• If you want to reposition a candle, extinguish the flame and relight after moving.

When thinking about fire safety, it’s good practise to picture the worst-case scenario. For example, moving a lit candle from your bedroom to your living room might seem like an easy-enough task, but it isn’t. If you tripped and fell down the stairs, you could drop the candle and be knocked unconscious, leaving you incapacitated as the fire starts. With one slip, the seemingly innocent task of moving a lit candle becomes a lot more serious. No one plans to fall down the stairs, but plenty of people have.

Test your smoke alarms

Unless you’re in the same room as the fire, your smoke alarm will probably be the first thing to tell you something’s wrong. It is an essential piece of equipment that gives you precious minutes to safely evacuate the premises, especially if you’re asleep and unaware of your surroundings.

Don’t neglect your smoke alarms; they should be tested once a week. Remember, it only takes a second to press a button and test your alarm, but it could make all the difference if a fire started in your home. The Test It Tuesday campaign, which encourages habitual alarm checks, was created for this very reason. Follow #testittuesday on social media and get into the habit now.

What to do if a fire starts in your home

Hopefully, you will never have to experience a home fire, but if you do, a viable and thought-out plan could save you and anyone you live with. Vital information and actions for what to do during house fire include:

Try not to panic:

Thinking calmly and rationally could make all the difference during an emergency. An evacuation plan is paramount to this as you can refer to a plan you made when you weren’t panicking.

Alert others:

If you live with people, you need to make them aware of the danger as quickly as possible.

Route of least resistance:

The easiest points of evacuation are the entrance and exit of your house. Make sure they aren’t obstructed and only use alternative routes, such as windows, if your primary points of exit are blocked by fire.

Stay low:

If smoke fills your lungs, you can lose consciousness and be trapped in the house. Remember, smoke rises so stay low and breathe the clearer air as you evacuate.

Doors:

Before opening doors, use the back of your hand to check the heat of the handle in case there’s a fire on the other side. Also, close the door to the room where the fire is (if it is safe to do so), as well as any doors you use to delay the spread of flames and smoke.

Don’t stop:

The life of everyone you live with is the most important thing – never collect possessions or look for pets, evacuate as quickly and calmly as possible, and do not go back in the house once you’re outside.

CheckFire has over 40 years’ experience in fire safety and is passionate about protecting people and businesses. To learn more, visit our Resource Centre for a host of materials and expert advice on fire safety.