Candles

We recommend using battery-powered candles instead of candles with real flames.

Candles and tea lights can give a warm glow to a room or fill it with an aroma, but they can also lead to fires. We attend over 20 fires every year caused by candles. If you do decide to use them, please follow our safety advice to keep yourself and others safe.

A battery operated candle lit up.

Candle safety

Be mindful of these safety measures when also using joss sticks and oil and incense burners. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home.

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Do

  • make sure that candles are placed in a fire-resistant candle holder
  • keep candles away from furniture and curtains
  • leave at least 10cm between burning candles and tea lights
  • put out candles before leaving the room and before you go to bed
  • use a snuffer or spoon to put out candles
  • keep candles, matches and lighters away from children and pets.
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Don't

  • put them under shelves or in enclosed spaces
  • ever leave a burning candle unattended
  • blow out candles, it can send sparks and hot wax flying
  • use candles in, or near a tent
  • move a candle while it’s lit.

Tea lights

Tea lights are high risk because they have a foil outer container, which can get extremely hot and melt the surfaces underneath. Make sure you put tea lights in suitable holders that are non-flammable.

A singular tea light on a gold and white holder.

Jar candles

There have been incidents where glasses and jars containing candles have shattered without warning. This happens when the level of the wax in the jar decreases and the heat can no longer be absorbed by the wax.

You should always keep an eye on your candles. We recommend snuffing out the candle when the level of wax has burnt down close to the base of the jar.

An orange candle in a glass jar glowing.

What to do if there’s a fire

  1. Get out of the building, closing any doors behind you.
  2. Stay out of the building. 
  3. Call 999 and ask for the fire service.