Candles are a growing cause of fire.  Every year people are killed and injured because they were careless with one.

Candles mark special occasions and creat a special atmosophere.  They also bring fire into your home.

Here are some guidelines for burning a candle safely:

1.  Put them on a heat resistant surface.  Be careful with tealights and votives, which get hot enough to melt plastic. 

2.  Put them in a proper fitting holder.  Candles need to be held firmly upright by the holder so they won't fall over.

3.  Postion a lit candle away from drafts.  Keep them away from curtains - pillows - table scarfs

4.  Make sure there is at least 3 feet between a candle and any surface above it.  It is easy to forget that there is a lot of heat above a burning candle.

5.  Keep clothing and hair away from a lit candle.  Do not lean over a lit candle.

6.  Candles should be out of reach of children and pets.

7.  Keep at least 4" between 2 burning candles.

8.  Extinguish candles before you leave a room.  Never go to  sleep with your candles still burning.

9.  It is safer to use a snuffer or a spoon to put out a candle.