Candle Safety

In recent years, numerous fires in the City of San Diego have been caused by unattended candles.

Here are a few tips to safely enjoy candles in your home:

• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Always burn candles on heat resistant surfaces. A candle can melt plastic.
• Never burn candles near combustibles such as curtains or decorations.
• Never put candles near windows or exits.
• Never leave candles within reach of small children or pets.
• Keep burning candles at least four inches apart.
• Votive and scented candles turn to liquid as they burn. Be sure they are in a glass or metal container.
• Extinguish candles before leaving a room or falling asleep.
• Keep the candle wick neatly trimmed down to 1/4 inch. Trimming the wick keeps the candle burning slower with less smoke.
• When a candle's flame gets too high, blow it out, let it cool, trim the wick again to 1/4", and then relight.