WAXED! 'TIS THE SEASON FOR CANDLE FIRES

  • Published
  • By a compilation by Tim Barela
  • Torch Magazine
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Candles are pretty. Candles smell good. Candles are romantic.

Candles also can be deadly.

Sept. 4, 2006: An unattended candle caused one of Chicago's deadliest and most heartbreaking fires in years. The blaze killed six children ages 3 to 14, some of whom screamed "We're burning!" as neighbors watched helplessly.

Dec. 25, 2008: A home fire on Christmas day claimed the life of a 3-year-old boy in south New Jersey. The culprit? A decorative candle too close to the Christmas tree and too close to a child. The boy started to play with the candle, and before anyone could react, the tree burst into flame, which engulfed the room in seconds.

Dec. 23, 2009: A 60-year-old woman in an Oregon nursing home died when a candle she was burning caught her room on fire. She had fallen asleep in a chair and left the candle unattended for hours.

According to National Fire Protection Association experts, we are entering the peak holiday season where candle fires reach their deadly height. In December alone, candle fires more than triple, officials said. On average each year, the top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, Christmas Eve and New Year's Day, in that order, they added.

Here are some other important statistics on candle fires reported by the NFPA.
  • Candles cause an estimated 15,600 fires in residential structures, 150 deaths, 1,270 injuries, and $539 million in estimated direct property damage each year.
  • Forty-one percent of U.S. home candle fires begin in the bedroom, causing 24 percent of the deaths resulting from these fires.
  • Seven out of 10 households in the United States now use candles, with younger adults more likely to use them than older ones.
  • More than one-third of candle fires occurred after candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled.
  • More than half of all candle fires started when something that could burn, such as furniture, mattresses, bedding, curtains or decorations, were too close to the candle.
  • Six percent of candle fires were started by people (usually children) playing with the candle.
  • Twelve percent of home candle fires started after the candle user fell asleep.
  • Half of all civilian candle fire deaths occur between midnight and 6 a.m.