by Louise Nilon

Created on: March 12, 2009   Last Updated: September 23, 2009

The romance and relaxing mood created by candlelight are undeniable and while candles are a great way to generate a pleasant ambience in a room it is easy to forget that by lighting a candle there is a potential risk of a fire breaking out. There are around 18,000 fires a year caused by candles, many of these fatal; you can help prevent your home becoming another sad statistic by using the following advice.

1) Find the right candle holder

Candles should always be placed in a secure container; you should make sure that the candle you are using is the right size for the holder you have got. Candles that wobble about in their holders have a chance of falling over which could cause a potentially lethal fire. Don't put a candle in something that has not been designed to hold one, a glass from your kitchen cupboard may not be heatproof, the chances are it may shatter as it heats up creating a real risk of fire.

(2) Find the right location

Candles should be placed away from flammable materials, they should be kept well away from curtains and you should always remove anything nearby which could fall onto the flame. It is also important to remember that heat rises; don't put candles underneath shelves as heat rising from the candles may cause the shelf ignite.

If you're using tea-lights in glass holders they should be placed on a heat resistant surface. The bottom of tea-lights can become very hot and may scorch wooden surfaces.

Most importantly candles should be placed high up out of reach of children or pets that could easily knock them over. Remember you should never leave children alone in a room with burning candles.

(3) Safety First

When lighting a candle you should make sure any loose clothing or long hair is kept away from the flame. You should make sure any matches you have used to light candles are extinguished completely before throwing them in the waste bin. Once lit you should never leave a burning candle unattended, you should always keep a watchful eye on your candles and be ready to extinguish them if necessary.

(4) Be prepared

When using candles it is always important to make sure you have quick access to fire extinguishers or a jug of water just in case the worst should happen. If a fire does break out and spreads quickly you should phone the emergency services and evacuate the building as soon as possible. Don't attempt to put out a large fire yourself; your own safety is more important than anything material possession the fire might destroy.

(5) Extinguish safely

When you have finished with your candles you should always extinguish candles safely and make sure they are out completely. Using a candle snuffer is the safest way to extinguish your candles. Blowing candles out, especially if you have not kept your candles away from flammable furnishings can be dangerous as sparks can fly from the candle igniting anything nearby. You should also remember that once a candle is extinguished the melted wax is extremely hot. This can easily burn your skin if spilt so you should not move them until the wax has cooled and has set again.

Candles can be dangerous as they do bring the risk of fire into your home, however, there is no need to be afraid to use candles in your home as long as you respect their ability to cause fires. If you follow these safety tips you should be able to safely and sensibly enjoy using your candles.

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