Candle Safety

A candle is an open flame and can easily ignite any nearby combustible material.

It is probably not a surprise that a large number of fires caused by candles occur during the Christmas and New Year's holiday period.

Keep a person in every room where a candle is lit, and extinguish them when leaving the room or going to sleep.
Keep candles away from items that can catch fire, like clothing, books, and curtains.
Use candle holders that are study, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that cannot burn, and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two inches of the holder. Votives and containers should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
During power outages, avoid carrying a lit candle. Use flashlights instead.
Keep close tabs on your pets when candles are lit as the open flame piques their curiosity.