Housekeeping · 생활 화재 예방

Home Candle Safety: Six Steps for Clear Space and Extinguishing Flames

Open flames can ignite nearby fabrics and paper. Keep lit candles at least about 30 cm (12 inches) from combustibles, extinguish them before leaving or sleeping, and consider flameless LED alternatives.

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Wikimedia Commons · BogTar201213 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0; original unmodified; no alterations · Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ↗

The U.S. Fire Administration warns that candles can tip or ignite materials placed too close. Its guidance calls for stable holders, at least 12 inches (30.5 cm) from combustibles, and extinguishing candles before leaving the room or sleeping. The photo shows a candle flame, not a model safe setup.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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1. Prefer flameless options: For ambiance, consider a battery-powered LED candle. During a power outage, use a flashlight instead of an open flame.
2. Choose a stable holder: If using a real candle, place it in a sturdy heat-resistant holder on a flat surface. Avoid edges where a passerby or pet could knock it over.
3. Clear combustibles: Keep flames at least 12 inches (about 30 cm) away from curtains, bedding, paper, books and decorations. Keep hair and loose sleeves away too.
4. Keep children and pets clear: Do not light candles where they can be reached or knocked over. Avoid lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas.
5. Supervise continuously: Never leave a burning candle unattended. Extinguish and allow it to cool before moving it; do not rearrange objects next to a flame.
6. Extinguish before leaving: Put out every candle before leaving the room or going to bed and verify the flames are out. If a fire starts, evacuate and call local emergency services rather than confronting a dangerous blaze.

U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)Candle Fire Safety ↗Official USFA fire-safety page: stable holders, 12 inches from combustibles, extinguish when leaving or sleeping, avoid bedrooms and bathrooms, flashlights for outages, flameless alternatives.Wikimedia CommonsFile:Red candle flame.jpg ↗File photo of red candle and flame by BogTar201213; CC BY-SA 4.0 and original JPEG checked. Not a safe placement example.Wikimedia CommonsCommons:Reusing content outside Wikimedia/technical ↗Technical reuse page explicitly permits direct hotlinking; this does not supersede each file's license and creator-credit requirements.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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