U.S. fire departments responded to an annual estimated average 5,910 home structure fires started by candles. These fires cause an annual average of 74 civilian deaths and 558 civilian injuries, as well as $257 million in property damage.

Candles were the second leading cause of bedroom fires and fifth leading cause of living room fires, as well as the eighth leading cause of all home structure fire civilian injuries.

The rate of 94 injuries per 1,000 reported candle fires was nearly three times the rate for all home structure fire causes.

Half of all candle fires started when a flammable piece of décor – such as furniture, mattresses, bedding, curtains, home decorations, paper, or clothing – was too close to the lit candle.

In 21% of home structure candle fires, the candle was either left unattended, discarded, or otherwise misused.

Over one-third of candle fires (36%) started in the bedroom. Sleep was a factor in 10% of home structure candle fires, 15% of candle fire deaths, and 18% of candle fire injuries.

• Keep clothes and hair away from the naked flame.
• Always use a suitable holder when burning candles.
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and away from pets.
• Consider an extra smoke alarm in the rooms where you use candles.
• Extinguish candles before moving them and don’t let anything fall into the hot wax.
• Extinguish candles before you leave a room and never go to sleep with a candle still burning.
• Use a snuffer or a spoon to put them out. Blowing them can send sparks and hot wax flying.
• Don’t put them under shelves – make sure there’s at least one meter (three feet) between a candle and any surface above it.
• Put them on a heat-resistant surface and be especially careful with night lights and tea lights, which get hot enough to melt plastic.
• Scented candles turn to liquid in order to release their fragrance, so always burn them in a suitable glass or metal container that can withstand the heat of the liquid.