Candle Safety Statistics You Need to Know

• Annually, an estimated 23,600 fires in residences are caused by candles and result in 1,525 civilian injuries, 165 fatalities, and $390 million in direct property loss.
• After declining for decades, candle-related home fires started increasing in 1991, along with candle sales currently at more than $2 billion annually. Since 1995, each year has seen a record-high number of fires blamed on candles.
• In 2002, candle fires in the home were responsible for an estimated 130 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries and $333 million in property damage.
• In 2002, candle fires accounted for 5 percent of home fires, compared with 1.1 percent in the early 1980s.
• Forty percent of home candle fires started in the bedroom, and one in six started in common rooms, living rooms, family rooms or dens.
• Children ages 5 to 9 were 2.5 times more likely to die in a candle fire than adults.
• Since 1999, Christmas Day has been the peak day of the year for home candle fires, perhaps because candles are frequently a part of holiday decorating and rituals. Eleven percent of the candle fires in December started when decorations were ignited.
• Half of all home candle fires occurred when a combustible material came too close to the candle.
• Eighteen percent of home candle fires occurred when burning candles were left unattended.
• Falling asleep was a factor in 12 percent of candle fires and is attributed to a quarter of all home candle fire deaths.

Source: The National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpa.org) and the United States Fire Administration