Candles Can Start A Fire In Your Cleveland Home

7/14/2020 (Permalink)

Call our SERVPRO Team today if you experience an unexpected candle fire!

We all love candles. They are pretty to look at and get your home smelling wonderful. But unfortunately we need to remember that a candle is an open flame and can easily catch its surroundings on fire causing your beloved home to go up in flames.

First, lets take a look at the candle fire facts from the National Fire Protection Association to see just how common a candle fire is.

• There are 21 candle fires reported per day on average.
• Candles cause 2% of reported home fires, 3% of home deaths, 6% of home fire injuries, and 4% of the direct property damage in house fires.
• 37% of home candle fires start in the bedroom.
• 11% of the candle fires were a result of falling asleep while a candle was still burning.
• 60% of candle fires occurred when a flammable item was too close to the candle.

Wow, those facts are chilling! Now that we know how common candle fires are, let's take a look at how we can prevent candle fires in our homes.

• Blow out all candles before leaving the room or going to bed. Avoid having candles in the bedroom or other area where family members may fall asleep.
• Keep candles at least 1 foot away from flammable items in the home.
• Use candle holders that are sturdy and won't tip over easily.
• Make sure the surface your candles are on is sturdy and uncluttered.
• Be careful when lighting candles. Be sure to keep your hair and loose clothing away from the open flame.
• Never burn a candle all of the way down. Be sure to put it out before too close to the bottom of the container.
• Never use a candle in the home if there is oxygen being used.
• Never leave your children alone in the room with a burning candle.

Don't wait to call a professional when a candle unexpectedly causes a fire in your home. SERVPRO of The North Coast is here to help with your fire restoration needs.