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AIBU?

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Original poster

Candles and Halloween

167 replies

Chimbos · 31/10/2024 22:40

Out trick or treating with my kids this evening. I stay right next to them as they are quite little and on quite a few doorsteps there were real lit tealights inside pumpkins. I do realise that the chances are low but soooo many kids wear those super flammable dresses and it would just take a kid bending down near a pumpkin with a large mouth and a candle pushed next to it for the dress to go up in flames. Perhaps I’m being paranoid but AIBU to nudge people towards either using LED tealights or keeping the pumpkins out of reach of children?

OP posts:
TotHappy · 31/10/2024 23:56

It is a bit joyless though. A plastic and battery tealight instead of a real flickering flame. Its not in the spirit really, I think I'd rather not bother. I will consider pumpkin placement more carefully next year though

notanothernamechange24 · 31/10/2024 23:56

ChristinaW16 · 31/10/2024 23:28

I had a real candle inside a pumpkin on my driveway tonight. If you are concerned, don't bang on my door on my property demanding sweets....

Exactly! Your kids your responsibility to keep them safe. If you think their outfit is a fire risk then buy them one that isn't!
Maybe I'm just a grumpy bore but tonight's trick or treaters have really taken the piss! Teenagers literally taking all the sweets. Stealing buckets off other children and leaving litter up the street.

Won't bloody bother again!

Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 31/10/2024 23:52

BerryCakewell · 31/10/2024 23:19

Yes, ever since the horrible incident with Claudia Winkleman’s daughter I’ve used artificial tea lights.

Same, I always use LEDs in our pumpkins now.

Miyagi99 · 31/10/2024 23:49

Or keep your children away from pumpkins maybe? I mean if they want a candle in their pumpkin in their garden that’s up to them surely. Keep your kid’s flammable costumes away! I know what to do next Halloween!

JFDIYOLO · 31/10/2024 23:49

Mine had real tea lights but is always placed on the gatepost which is high up and wide. I wouldnt put them on the doorstep or as nothing else they could trip over.

Frozensnow · 31/10/2024 23:47

BerryCakewell · 31/10/2024 23:19

Yes, ever since the horrible incident with Claudia Winkleman’s daughter I’ve used artificial tea lights.

Same

ReadingGladys · 31/10/2024 23:42

We had a real candle but our pumpkin was high up so not a risk to anyone. It’s something to think about but the main responsibility is with the parent who is supervising.

minipie · 31/10/2024 23:40

RegimentalSturgeon · 31/10/2024 23:38

Maybe not buying flammable tat would be an idea? There’s something rather joyles about LED candles vs a real flame.

It’s inside a pumpkin, all you see is the glow anyway.

Cotton and other non tat is also flammable

JollyPinkFox · 31/10/2024 23:39

Get a grip

RegimentalSturgeon · 31/10/2024 23:38

Maybe not buying flammable tat would be an idea? There’s something rather joyles about LED candles vs a real flame.

ChristinaW16 · 31/10/2024 23:37

Chimbos · 31/10/2024 23:32

Why bother joining in the Halloween fun with an attitude like that?

Show quote history

Because you bang on other people's doors then expect them to have submitted some sort of risk assessment to protect your child.. I'm happy to dole out sweets. I have a candle inside a massive pumpkin with a lid on.. If you aren't happy with that risk, don't ring my doorbell!

Talipesmum · 31/10/2024 23:36

We use real tea lights but put the pumpkins well clear of the path on an area to the side, raised up a bit. We used LED ones for a while when we had them down on the path - it was the Claudia winkleman story that made me realise. The way we carve the pumpkins would make it v hard to get anything touching the flame but a bunch of jostling 4 year olds are exactly the type to do it if it’s where they stand, so we move it out of the way.

PMSL at the person who thinks the tea lights outside in a damp pumpkin on damp grass might burn your house down though - perhaps if it wasn’t late October in the UK that might be more of an issue. Costumes are much more of a risk though.

Original poster
Chimbos · 31/10/2024 23:32

ChristinaW16 · 31/10/2024 23:28

I had a real candle inside a pumpkin on my driveway tonight. If you are concerned, don't bang on my door on my property demanding sweets....

Why bother joining in the Halloween fun with an attitude like that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Chimbos · 31/10/2024 23:29

MrsToothyBitch · 31/10/2024 23:14

I wasn't allowed to touch the pumpkin at home when the candle was lit, as a child. I'm quite wary of this, yanbu op. I'd probably try and use those fake led tea lights to put in displays for trick or treaters, just in case. I say this as a very cautious candle lover.

We have a plastic pumpkin here (he's called Kevin). He has a battery operated coloured light inside. I feel he's less of a risk and we can still enjoy hin without the light if it broke.

Give Kevin my regards

OP posts:
Original poster
Chimbos · 31/10/2024 23:28

Laura268 · 31/10/2024 23:09

I'd never thought of this.

I can imagine it as well - you could be stood right near your kid and not see a little pumpkin on a doorstep as a fire risk.

It just hadn't occurred to me at all. Our pumpkins had lids and were on a bench to the side of the front door but I might go with battery ones next year. It's not exactly a big deal to buy a couple of battery ones.

With the costume - I get mine from supermarkets. Not sure about their flammability. But it's something I will be mindful of next year.

To be honest when I first read the thread I did roll my eyes a bit but then I started thinking about it and googled the Claudia thing and that must have been so scary. Thanks for raising awareness!

Show quote history

Thank you for posting this. Seems this topic has touched a nerve with some people but if it has even the tiniest chance of raising awareness of this and stopping a child going up in flames then I’m very happy to be called a joy sucking Karen 😁

If you want a pumpkin out, it’s really not much extra effort to either buy an LED light or place it out of the way of where the children will be standing.

OP posts:
ChristinaW16 · 31/10/2024 23:28

I had a real candle inside a pumpkin on my driveway tonight. If you are concerned, don't bang on my door on my property demanding sweets....

Alottodoaboutssomething · 31/10/2024 23:19

No need for real candles, when led tealights are readily available. You can even change their battery, and use them again. I don't see why real are needed at all for trick or treating.

BerryCakewell · 31/10/2024 23:19

Yes, ever since the horrible incident with Claudia Winkleman’s daughter I’ve used artificial tea lights.

cadburyegg · 31/10/2024 23:17

Hmm yes fair point.
I do usually use led ones but couldn't find them this year so used tea lights

fashionqueen0123 · 31/10/2024 23:15

Chimbos · 31/10/2024 23:03

Well that sounds safe enough. It’s the people who have the pumpkins on the doorway. Literally where the kids stand when they ring the bell with their polyester outfits dangling directly over them.

Show quote history

Yup we told our kids to stand back from some.

i use led ones

MrsToothyBitch · 31/10/2024 23:14

I wasn't allowed to touch the pumpkin at home when the candle was lit, as a child. I'm quite wary of this, yanbu op. I'd probably try and use those fake led tea lights to put in displays for trick or treaters, just in case. I say this as a very cautious candle lover.

We have a plastic pumpkin here (he's called Kevin). He has a battery operated coloured light inside. I feel he's less of a risk and we can still enjoy hin without the light if it broke.

thebigL · 31/10/2024 23:10

HolyMilkBoobiesBatman · 31/10/2024 22:43

This is exactly what happened to Claudia Winkleman’s daughter a few years ago so it is a worry but then again what if you have no LED candles? is it down to the homeowner or the parent to keep the child safe?

Oh you'd already said it! Worth a repeat, mind.

Laura268 · 31/10/2024 23:09

Chimbos · 31/10/2024 23:03

Well that sounds safe enough. It’s the people who have the pumpkins on the doorway. Literally where the kids stand when they ring the bell with their polyester outfits dangling directly over them.

Show quote history

I'd never thought of this.

I can imagine it as well - you could be stood right near your kid and not see a little pumpkin on a doorstep as a fire risk.

It just hadn't occurred to me at all. Our pumpkins had lids and were on a bench to the side of the front door but I might go with battery ones next year. It's not exactly a big deal to buy a couple of battery ones.

With the costume - I get mine from supermarkets. Not sure about their flammability. But it's something I will be mindful of next year.

To be honest when I first read the thread I did roll my eyes a bit but then I started thinking about it and googled the Claudia thing and that must have been so scary. Thanks for raising awareness!

thebigL · 31/10/2024 23:08

Sadly it happened to Claudia Winkleman's daughter a few years ago - she was wearing one of those dress-up outfits (which absolutely are not fire safe!!) for trick or treating and it went up in flames. She was very badly burned.

Original poster
Chimbos · 31/10/2024 23:08

Needmorelego · 31/10/2024 22:41

I thought all shop bought outfits were meant to be fire safe.

Apparently many are classed as toys and don’t have to meet certain safety standards

https://www.twfire.gov.uk/news/plea-for-parents-to-use-electric-candles-this-halloween-due-to-flammable-costumes-that-can-burn-in-seconds/

Plea for parents to use electric candles this Halloween due to flammable costumes that can "burn in seconds" - Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

Fire chiefs have warned parents to think twice about using candles this Halloween and said costumes can go up in flames in a matter of seconds. Mams and dads across Tyne and Wear may be making the last touches to their family’s Halloween plans ahead of...

https://www.twfire.gov.uk/news/plea-for-parents-to-use-electric-candles-this-halloween-due-to-flammable-costumes-that-can-burn-in-seconds

OP posts: