A word from the Fire Foxie...
For many of those served by your local paid or volunteer fire department, the coming weeks will be anything but a holiday. Fires caused by candles and carelessness with fire will certainly damage homes, dampen spirits - and sadly, may take lives.
As we enter the peak of the Holiday Season, I ask you to join us in putting a stop to these needless and all-too-often tragic blazes.
Is there a really a problem?
Our friends at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report that home candle fires have more than tripled since the low of 5,500 in 1990.
Why am I so adamant about sharing this message now?
Nationwide, December has almost twice the number of home candle fires of an average month. Christmas Day was the peak day of the year for home candle fires in 1999 through 2002. New Year's Day and Christmas Eve tied for second during this four year period.
Candle fires now account for an estimated 5% of all reported home fires in our country. Two-fifths (40%) of these fires started in the bedroom, resulting in 30% of the associated civilian deaths.
The danger is far from seasonal...
Throughout 2002, an estimated 18,000 home fires started by candles were reported to public Fire Departments. These fires resulted in an estimated 130 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries and an estimated direct property loss of $333 million. Yes, the human impact of home candle fires is truly alarming.
According to the NFPA in 2002,
- 50% of home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was left or came too close to the candle;
- 18% of these fires occured after candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled;
- 23% took place when some form of combustible material came too close to the candle;
- 5% were started by people (usually children) playing with the candle;
- 12% started after the candle user fell asleep - a factor that was prevalent in 25% of home candle fire deaths.
I'm taking a moment to therefore remind you:
- Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations).
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
- Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.
- Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
- Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
- Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votive candles should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
- Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.
- Keep candles up high out of reach of children.
- Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
- Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
- Store candles, matches and lighters up high and out children's sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Avoid carrying a lit candle during a power outage. Don't use a lit candle when searching for items in a confined space.
- Never use a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flame may ignite the fumes.
- And finally, please consider gifts other than candles this Holiday Season.
From the heart, there's nothing more depressing than fighting a fire over the holidays. It's bad enough to lose all your possesions and have your life turned upside down, but to have it happen over the holidays...well it sucks to see families standing by, crying, as you're doing your best to keep the fire from consuming the homes on either side.
On behalf of all of my brother and sister firefighters, please accept our warmest wishes for safe and joyous Holidays!
Swift Fox
This message modified from that issued by:
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
As we enter the peak of the Holiday Season, I ask you to join us in putting a stop to these needless and all-too-often tragic blazes.
Is there a really a problem?
Our friends at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) report that home candle fires have more than tripled since the low of 5,500 in 1990.
Why am I so adamant about sharing this message now?
Nationwide, December has almost twice the number of home candle fires of an average month. Christmas Day was the peak day of the year for home candle fires in 1999 through 2002. New Year's Day and Christmas Eve tied for second during this four year period.
Candle fires now account for an estimated 5% of all reported home fires in our country. Two-fifths (40%) of these fires started in the bedroom, resulting in 30% of the associated civilian deaths.
The danger is far from seasonal...
Throughout 2002, an estimated 18,000 home fires started by candles were reported to public Fire Departments. These fires resulted in an estimated 130 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries and an estimated direct property loss of $333 million. Yes, the human impact of home candle fires is truly alarming.
According to the NFPA in 2002,
- 50% of home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was left or came too close to the candle;
- 18% of these fires occured after candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled;
- 23% took place when some form of combustible material came too close to the candle;
- 5% were started by people (usually children) playing with the candle;
- 12% started after the candle user fell asleep - a factor that was prevalent in 25% of home candle fire deaths.
I'm taking a moment to therefore remind you:
- Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
- Keep candles away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations).
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a material that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping wax.
- Don't place lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over them.
- Place candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
- Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
- Keep candle wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative material. Votive candles should be extinguished before the last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
- Avoid candles with combustible items embedded in them.
- Keep candles up high out of reach of children.
- Never leave a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
- Don't allow children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
- Store candles, matches and lighters up high and out children's sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Avoid carrying a lit candle during a power outage. Don't use a lit candle when searching for items in a confined space.
- Never use a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flame may ignite the fumes.
- And finally, please consider gifts other than candles this Holiday Season.
From the heart, there's nothing more depressing than fighting a fire over the holidays. It's bad enough to lose all your possesions and have your life turned upside down, but to have it happen over the holidays...well it sucks to see families standing by, crying, as you're doing your best to keep the fire from consuming the homes on either side.
On behalf of all of my brother and sister firefighters, please accept our warmest wishes for safe and joyous Holidays!
Swift Fox
This message modified from that issued by:
Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department