Handle Candles With Care for a Safe Holiday Season
The flickering flame from a candle can provide glowing warmth and inviting scent to homes during the holiday season. Candles are often given as gifts or lit as a symbol of the holiday season, but it’s crucial to know how to use them safely. Almost 10,000 residential fires are caused each year by candles, with $374 million in property damage, in addition to the resultant injuries to people, and loss of lives. In fact, the top three days for fires due to candles are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
Candles are used in 70% of households, with typically one or two candles burning for a couple of hours, from one to three times each week. If, like many others, you enjoy lit candles in your home, here are a few tips to help keep you and your family safe from fires caused by candles:
- Never leave a burning candle in an unattended room, blow them out before you go
- Always extinguish candles before going to bed
- Keep candles in a holder that’s at least one foot away from anything that could catch fire
- Light candles carefully, keeping hair and clothing away from the flame
- Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home
- If you have small children or pets who could knock candles over, consider battery operated replacements or place out of their reach
If you intend to use a continuously burning candle for a religious ceremony, enclose the candle within a glass container and place it in a sink, basin filled with water or on a metal tray. One danger to be aware of with glass containers is that not all holders are made of tempered glass, which can withstand high temperatures. So don’t burn the candle all the way down as the glass can break or catch fire, and remember never to extinguish a candle with water. Additionally, try to avoid dried flowers or other combustibles in the candles you burn.
If there is a fire in your home, make sure you and your family get out right away and then call for help. It’s never safe to re-enter a burning home for any reason. As soon as possible, contact your insurance agent for help with your claim.
Don’t wait to make sure in that you’re covered in the event of a fire. Be sure to check with a trusted agent now for the right policy for you. For additional help with your insurance needs and coverage protection from loss due to fire, contact Pettineo Insurance Agency today at (954) 493-9424 or visit www.pettineo.com for a free quote.
Pettineo Insurance Agency Inc. provides insurance coverage protection plans for fire in Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, North Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, Sunrise, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, Tamarac, Plantation, Lighthouse Point and all of Florida. As an independent agent we represent many top rated companies in both the personal and commercial lines. We place your policy with the company offering the best coverage at a reasonable price. We offer a complete line of personal, commercial, life and health insurance products, designed exclusively for your insurance needs. Serving South Florida for almost 30 years, Pettineo Insurance offers the highly personalized service and stability that you should expect from your insurance agent.
