Candles

On average, about 20 home candle fires are reported every day in the United States.

• Keep candles at least 12 inches from anything that burns. A candle flame can easily light anything close to it.
• Blow out candles when you leave a room or your home, or when you go to bed. Many deadly candle fires start while people are asleep.
• Don't burn candles in bedrooms, bathrooms or sleeping areas. Many candle fires start in bedrooms, where people fall asleep.
• Use sturdy candle holders, where the candle can't be knocked over easily. A candle that tips over can start a fire.
• Never leave children alone near burning candles, even for a short time.
• Use flashlights, not candles, in a power outage.
• Think about flameless candles instead.

Sources

• Why each step matters: NFPA, NFPA, U.S. Fire Administration.
• About 20 home candle fires a day (from NFPA), 12 inches, blowing candles out, no candles in bedrooms, bathrooms and sleeping areas, stable holders, flashlights in power outages: U.S. Fire Administration, Candle fire safety (page last reviewed April 1, 2023).
• Children near candles, flameless candles: Ready.gov, Home fires (last updated February 26, 2026).