Luray Volunteer Fire Department

1 Firehouse Lane Luray, VA 22835 Phone: (540) 743-5585 Fax: 540-843-0991 About Us History Members In Memory Fallen In The Line Of Duty Gallery Fire Safety Children Auxiliary Events Calendar Statistics News Links Home

Candles and Oil Burners Candles and Oil burners can be handy in emergencies when the electricity goes out. Sometimes candles mark special occasions and create a special atmosphere in your room. Learn how to be careful with them though. Do's - Put them in a proper holder. Put them on heat resistant surfaces. Candles need to be held firmly by the holder so they won't fall over. The holder needs to be stable too, so it won't fall over either. - Position the candle(s) away from curtains, fabrics, furniture, and drafts. - If you put it under a shelf or other surface then it can burn the surface. Make sure there's at least three feet between a candle and any surface above it. - Keep clothes and hair away from the flames. For instance if you are setting a table, there's a chance you could lean across the table and forget that it's there. You don't want to set fire to your clothing or hair. - Keep children and pets away from candles. Make sure they are out of reach of children. - Space your candles. Make sure there is at least four inches between each burning candle. - Take precautions with votive and scented candles. These kind of candles turn to liquid to release their fragrance, so put them in a glass or metal holder. (be careful though, the holders may be hot for awhile after the candle is out, and this avoids the possibility of spilling the wax on you.) - Extinguish all candles before you leave a room. Place all candles and oil burners out of children's reach. - It is safer to use a candle snuffer to put them out than by blowing candles out. By blowing out candles you risk the chance of it sending sparks or hot wax flying. - Double check that they are out. Candles and Oil Burners that have been put out can go on smouldering and start a fire. Make sure they are completely out before leaving the room. Don'ts - Be especially careful with night lights and tea lights, which get hot enough to melt plastic. Televisions are not fire-resistant. - Don't put them near curtains, fabrics, or furniture. Keep them out of drafts. Be careful as well if you have a ceiling fan on when lighting a candle, this could burn you as well as sway the flame to something near by and start a fire. - Don't put them under shelves. It is easy to forget that there's alot of heat above a burning candle. - Don't move the candle when they are burning. Put out your candles before moving them, and also be careful of the hot wax. Don't let anything like a match stick fall into it. - Don't leave them burning, especially unattended. Never go to sleep with a candle still burning. And never leave a burning candle or oil burner in a child's bedroom or in their reach.