Candles have become increasingly popular.  The Fire District reminds you that candles, as any open flame, present the risk of fire.  Please use candles with care.  Similar to cooking, never leave a candle unattended.  If you leave the room or head off to sleep, be sure to completely blow the candle out.  Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets, making sure to place them in proper, sturdy holders to prevent them from falling over or being knocked over.  Never place a candle near draperies or other material that could easily be ignited by the open flame.  A breeze created by a fan, open window or air conditioning also increases the risk of blowing the flame into such flammable materials or blowing flammable materials into the flame.

There are new wickless candles on the market that tout themselves as being “fire safe” alternatives to traditional candles.  These “candles” use a low watt light bulb to melt wax in a ceramic container, giving off a pleasant aroma.  Treat these as you would traditional candles and never leave them “burning” when you leave the home or go to bed.  It’s a good idea to keep them away from small children as the wax does get quite hot and could result in a burn if touched.