Candles

Remember: A candle is an open flame. It can easily ignite any combustible items nearby.

Candles, lamps or similar account for over 40 preventable fire deaths in Australian homes each year*. 

The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) offers the following tips for the safe use of candles:

• Candles should only ever be used by adults.
• Make sure candles are placed in sturdy holders that will not tip over and place on a secure piece of heat-resistant furniture. Candle holders must be made of material that cannot burn.
• Extinguish all candles when leaving a room or going to sleep.
• Keep the immediate area around a candle clear of all items. They should be kept well away from items that can catch fire, such as clothing, books, paper, curtains, Christmas trees and flammable decorations etc.
• Do not place lit candles in windows, where blinds or curtains may come into contact with the flame.
• Any air movement (draughts) past a candle can cause the candle wax to melt unevenly. The candle may then become unstable and fall over. 
• Keep candles and all open flames away from flammable liquids and items such as medical oxygen or jerry cans containing fuel.
• Do not use candles in places where they can be knocked over by children or pets.
• Battery operated candles are a good and safe alternative to traditional candles.

Where Young Children are Present:

• Keep candles up high, out of reach of children.
• Never leave a child unattended in a room with a lit candle. A child should not sleep in a room with a lit candle.
• Keep all matches and lighters up high, out of the sight and reach of children, and preferably in a locked cabinet.

During Power Outages:

• Torches, flashlights and other lights powered by batteries are much safer light sources than candles.
• Wind up torches are a good alternative, as they do not need batteries.
• Try to avoid carrying a lit candle.
• Do not use a candle to go into confined spaces like a walk-in robe.
• Never use a candle for light when fuelling equipment, such as a kerosene heater or lantern as the flame may ignite the fumes.

Incense Sticks:

• Use sturdy heat resistant incense stick trays to ensure that falling ash does not come into contact with combustible items.
• Keep burning incense sticks out of draughts and away from curtains and blinds.
• Do not leave incense sticks burning when you are asleep or out of the house.
• Keep burning incense sticks away from children and pets.
• Keep matches and lighters out of reach and out of sight of children.

Combine the above safety tips with the installation of well-maintained, photo-electric smoke alarms in your home that are less than 10 years old. Consider having all your smoke alarms interconnected.

* Preventable Residential Fire Fatalities: July 2003 to June 2017.
 

Download a PDF English version of this Home Fire Safety Fact Sheet  (PDF 396KB)

For further advice ring the Community Safety Department 8204 3611

Country callers 1300 737 637

e-mail samfscommunitysafety@sa.gov.au

or call in to 99 Wakefield Street, Adelaide during business hours.