Home insurance

Safety tips

Burning candles safely

In recent years, candle use in Canadian homes has grown dramatically. Though the ambiance and mood created by candle light is enjoyable – and often necessary during a power outage – it's important you keep candle safety top-of-mind every time you light one.

The facts

• Candles are the only ignition source that shows an increase in the number of house fires each year in Canada.
• The incidence of fatalities is significant compared to the other types of fires reported.
• Fires caused by candles are clearly preventable.
• Candles left unattended account for 45% of all candle fires. These fires result in millions of dollars in property damage, as well as numerous injuries and deaths each year.

Safe candle use

• Light candles carefully and keep loose clothing and hair away from the flame.
• Use candleholders that won’t burn or tip over easily. Place candleholders on a sturdy, level, uncluttered and heat-resistant surface.
• Keep candlewicks trimmed to 1/2 cm or 1/4 in.
• Extinguish candles when they burn down to within 5 cm, or 2 in, of their holder, or when there’s about 1 cm, or less than a 1/2 in, of wax remaining in their container.
• Extinguish candles carefully, don’t spatter wax or fan the open flame.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Keep candles away from flammable materials and liquids.
• Keep burning candles out of reach of children and pets.
• Don’t let children play with burning candles or wax drippings.
• Don’t place burning candles near windows or doorways where a draft could bring the open flame into contact with combustible materials.
• Don’t move a burning candle.
• Use flashlights or battery-powered back-up lighting in the event of a power outage instead of candles.

If a fire happens

• Put your fire plan into action and evacuate all members of your family.
• Phone your local fire department immediately, or call 911.
• When it’s safe to do so, contact your broker to arrange for an adjuster to handle your claim.