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Maritme Security

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Candle Safety Tips

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) reports that candle fires account for an estimated 5% of all home fires. In 2002, candles were the cause of 18,000 reported home fires, resulting in 130 civilian deaths, 1350 civilian injuries, and an estimated $333 million in direct property loss. Fires caused by unattended candles are very common in our City. We encourage citizens of Laredo and surrounding areas to follow the following safety tips. Remember, fires are preventable.

Candle Safety Tips:

Place candles in sturdy, nonflammable holders (metal, glass, ceramic) that are large enough to collect dripping wax.

Always keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.

Always attend burning candles. Extinguish all candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.

Do not carry a lit candle during a power outage; use a flashlight instead.

Keep candle wicks trimmed to ¼ inch and extinguish when the flame gets too high. Once the candle cools down, re-trim the wick to ¼ inch. This keeps the candle burning slower and with less smoke.

Do not use lighted candles on or near a Christmas tree.

Consider using flameless candles. This alternative to traditional candles allows you to enjoy the glow of a real candle without the hazards of smoke, melting wax, or fire. Battery-powered flameless candles can be practically indistinguishable from real candles to the casual observer, with options including real wax, flickering glow, and a variety of pleasing scents.

1 comment:

Doublehoo said...

I have searched all around for Battery Operated Flameless Candles and found on website in particular which had it all. www.justhomedecor.com has a wide selection of designs, great prices and great customer service. Their candles have a patented flickering technology which makes them glow and flicker just like the real thing. They also last forever...just change the batteries.