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At
All Times,
Service Above Self |
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Season
of Light -or- Season of Fright?
Holiday Reminders from the LAFD
by Brian Humphrey
LAFD Firefighter/Paramedic
Dear Friend of the LA Fire Department:
For many of those we serve, the coming weeks will be anything
but a holiday. Fires caused by candles and carelessness with
fire will certainly damage homes, dampen spirits - and sadly,
may take lives. |
On this eve of Hanukkah and peak of the Holiday Season, the men
and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department ask you to join them
in putting a stop to these needless and all-too-often tragic blazes.
Is there a really a problem?
Data from our friends a the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) shows that home candle fires peaked on Christmas Day in 1999
when there were an estimated 200 home candle fires reported to fire
departments in the USA. This is five times the daily average of
40 such fires seen throughout the year. Candle fires represent about
10% of the home structure fires that occurred on Christmas Day.
January 1 ranked second with 150 home candle fires, and Christmas
Eve ranked third with 130.
Are home candle fires only a seasonal problem?
Though the month of December had almost twice the number of home
candle fires of an average month, the danger is far from seasonal.
Over the last decade, candle fires have almost tripled from the
amount reported in 1990.
Throughout 1999, an estimated 15,040 home fires started by candles
were reported to public Fire Departments. These fires resulted in
an estimated 102 civilian deaths, 1,473 civilian injuries and an
estimated direct property loss of $278 million. Yes, the human impact
of home candle fires is truly alarming.
According to the NFPA in 1999:
 40% of
home candle fires started in the bedroom.
38% occured
after candles were left unattended, abandoned or inadequately controlled.
23% took
place when some form of combustible material came too close to the
candle.
8% were
started by people (usually children) playing with the candle.
13% started
after the candle user fell asleep.
The men and women of the LAFD therefore remind you:
Extinguish
all candles when leaving the room or going to sleep.
Keep candles
away from items that can catch fire (e.g. clothing, books, paper,
curtains, Christmas trees, flammable decorations).
Use candle
holders that are sturdy, won't tip over easily, are made from a
material that can't burn and are large enough to collect dripping
wax.
Don't place
lit candles in windows, where blinds and curtains can close over
them.
Place candle
holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface and do not use candles
in places where they could be knocked over by children or pets.
Keep candles
and all open flames away from flammable liquids.
Keep candle
wicks trimmed to one-quarter inch and extinguish taper and pillar
candles when they get to within two inches of the holder or decorative
material. Votives and containers should be extinguished before the
last half-inch of wax starts to melt.
Avoid candles
with combustible items embedded in them.
Keep candles
up high out of reach of children.
Never leave
a child unattended in a room with a candle. A child should not sleep
in a room with a lit candle.
Don't allow
children or teens to have candles in their bedrooms.
Store candles,
matches and lighters up high and out children's sight and reach,
preferably in a locked cabinet.
Avoid carrying
a lit candle during a power outage. Don't use a lit candle when
searching for items in a confined space.
Never use
a candle for a light when checking pilot lights or fueling equipment
such as a kerosene heater or lantern. The flame may ignite the fumes.
We hope this reminder will help you and your family celebrate safely.
Please forward this message to your family and friends, so that
they too may safely enjoy the spirit of the season.
On behalf of all of us at the Los Angeles Fire Department, Happy
Holidays!
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Paramedic
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
E-Mail: beh9593@lafd.lacity.org
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Los Angeles Fire Department Home Page:
http://www.lafd.org
Subscribe to the LAFD Public Information E-Newsletter:
http://www.lafd.org/info.htm
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