Candles have already caused nearly a hundred house fires this year

Worst season still ahead, safety experts warn

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Various types of candle products have already caused nearly a hundred fires in houses and apartments this year.
      Furthermore, as for candle fires, the year’s worst time is yet to come.
      More than a third of the annual fires caused by candles and outdoor candle-pots usually take place in November-December.
      According to the Finnish National Rescue Association (SPEK), last year at least 112 fires - and the year before no fewer than 148 fires - were discovered to have been caused by the careless use of candles.
      In the last nine years 28 people have lost their lives in fires originating from candles, 21 of which happened in November-December.
      In addition, the statistics list several other fires, in which the role of candles as the possible cause of the blaze has been suspected but not verified.
     
”The majority of the candle fires are caused by simple carelessness and thoughtlessness”, says risk management chief Jukka Koponen from the North Savo Rescue Service.
      “During the festivities, the alcohol consumed in the course of the evening can further lower people’s attentiveness with regard to burning candles.”
      The year before last, safety labelling became mandatory on candle products in Finland. The warning can be either verbal or visual.
      A fire can start from a candle that has been left burning in an unoccupied room, or from an outdoor pot-candle that falls over on the porch.
      “There are also decorative Christmas arrangements on the market made out of inflammable material but with a place for a candle in the middle. Or at home a candle is placed on an unstable base near papers”, Koponen lists possible hazardous situations.
     
A candle that has been left burning on the window may cause the curtains to catch fire. Several of the recent fires on record have also been caused by outdoor candle-pots left burning on plastic outdoor furniture on balconies.
      Outdoor candle-pots should always be placed firmly on the ground and sufficiently far from building walls or other flammable material.
     
The Safety Technology Authority (TUKES) in turn warns of the battery-powered LED tea lights that some people have mistakenly taken for wax candles and tried to light with a match.
      If set on fire, an LED tea light produces a lot of smoke and its overheated battery may explode.
      According to TUKES, one may not immediately notice the danger, for the flame of an ignited LED tea light looks right until the plastic melts.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Already 84 people have died in fires this year (20.11.2009)

Links:
  TUKES
  SPEK (in Finnish)

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