The Tallahassee Fire Department would like to remind everyone to be diligent when it comes to fire awareness and safety throughout this winter holiday season. In addition to some general safety precautions, such as checking the batteries in your smoke alarms and making sure you have a fire extinguisher on-hand, here are some important safety tips to keep in mind.

Candle Fire Safety Tips

Decorative and fragranced candles may be an attractive addition to your home décor, but if used improperly, they can be a serious fire hazard.  Residential fires caused by candles have more than doubled over the past decade, and most candle fires were caused by combustibles being located too close to the candle. The next most common cause of candle fires was from a candle falling over or being knocked over by wind, doors, children or pets. The Tallahassee Fire Department wants to keep you and your family safe by giving you these candle fire safety tips:

• Keep candles a minimum of 1 foot, in all directions, from flammable and combustible items such as curtains or bedding.  Make sure curtains cannot be blown over the candle by wind.
• Place candles on secure furniture and out of the reach of children and pets.
• Only burn candles while under constant adult supervision.
• Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
• Trim wicks prior to each use to within ¼-inch from the top of the candle.
• Extinguish the flame if it burns too close to the container side.
• Place burning candles away from drafts and vents.
• Do not allow candles to burn down to the bottom of their container. Stick candles should not beallowed to burn down below 2 inches from their holder.
• Extinguish all candles before leaving the house or when going to bed.
• Avoid burning candles for more than four hours at a time.
• Avoid walking while holding a burning candle.
• Do not move a glass container when the wax is liquid.
• Use a flashlight rather than a candle during power outages.
• Do not use a candle for light when fueling equipment such as a kerosene heater or lantern as the flame may ignite the fuel vapors.
• Secure candles in holders made of glass, ceramic, metal or other noncombustible material.
• Avoid using candles that have combustible materials embedded in them.

Where Candle Fires Start

Bedroom 48%
Living/Family Room/Den 25%
Bathroom 19%
Kitchen 8%

Space Heater Safety Tips

Here are some important safety tips for using a space heater to warm your home during these colder temperatures. 

• Make sure your space heater has a label showing that it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Before using any space heater, read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully.
• Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use the heater.
• Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you're leaving a room or going to sleep. Don't let pets or children play too close to a space heater.
• Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heat and should never be used to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes.
• Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas and test them once a month.
• Proper placement of space heaters is critical. Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs.
• Locate space heaters out of high traffic areas and doorways where they may pose a tripping hazard.
• Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
• Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture or carpet, which can overheat and start a fire.
• Always unplug and safely store the heater when it is not in use.