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Candle wouldn't go out

19 replies

purpleme12 · 01/08/2026 22:50

The candle was at the end of its life, almost burnt but I looked over and the flame was way higher than normal and looked higher than it should be and seemed to wibbling this way and that as well a bit uncontrollable. So thought shit, tried to blow it out but I couldn't even blow it out. Fire alarm went off. I had to rush for a cup of water and threw it on it and then it went out.

Bit worrying

Never happened before

OP posts:
Chocolattecoffeecup · 01/08/2026 22:51

That's weird

some candles can be faulty and unsafe that way!

purpleme12 · 01/08/2026 22:54

I thought about putting it in the bath to put it out as well?

As it happened it was so hot, the tin it was in, that I couldn't even pick it up

OP posts:
OrangeFlower14 · 01/08/2026 23:19

It burned through metal, I guess and that's why caught fire

It didn't not go out it caught fire

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purpleme12 · 01/08/2026 23:37

Perhaps you're right

It was a good job it was in the room with me cos it it wasn't I wouldn't have known

It's reminded me to be more careful with them

OP posts:
Gagagardener · 01/08/2026 23:41

Do catch up. Try electric light bulbs. They've been around for a while...

OrangeFlower14 · 01/08/2026 23:46

purpleme12 · 01/08/2026 23:37

Perhaps you're right

It was a good job it was in the room with me cos it it wasn't I wouldn't have known

It's reminded me to be more careful with them

don't burn it right to the end
Mind you I had a colleague who was woken up after they left a candle burning and fell asleep. It caught fire and actually someone saw it from the street so they were banging on the door screaming. I don't know why this smoke alarm didn't go off.

purpleme12 · 01/08/2026 23:47

Thanks I didn't know you shouldn't burn it to the end

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 01/08/2026 23:47

I think I did fall asleep once forgetting to blow it out

Won't be doing that again anyway after today

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 02/08/2026 00:17

Was it a tealight in a metal holder? I have seen something about this, they are a fire hazard because the holder can heat up so much the whole thing can ignite, especially if it's placed on a flammable or non heatproof surface. I think the PSA I saw was about them being put on top of an (old, boxy) TV and they melted through the TV casing and ignited the electrics inside.

Never leave a lit candle unattended - glad you caught it!

purpleme12 · 02/08/2026 00:31

BertieBotts · 02/08/2026 00:17

Was it a tealight in a metal holder? I have seen something about this, they are a fire hazard because the holder can heat up so much the whole thing can ignite, especially if it's placed on a flammable or non heatproof surface. I think the PSA I saw was about them being put on top of an (old, boxy) TV and they melted through the TV casing and ignited the electrics inside.

Never leave a lit candle unattended - glad you caught it!

No it was a tin. Bigger than a tealight. One of those ones that just comes as a candle in a tin.

It was just in the bathroom so I think on tiles.

But yes the holder had definitely heated up

OP posts:
AmIrightAmIright · 02/08/2026 00:34

These are quite dangerous I think. My DS left one burning on a carpet once, it melted the synthetic fibres and he couldn't pick it up because it was so hot. It then caught fire with a huge flame when he poured water on it to try to extinguish it.
We were both pretty shocked.

purpleme12 · 02/08/2026 00:36

Did yours not go out then when you poured water on it? What happened in the end?

OP posts:
AmIrightAmIright · 02/08/2026 00:53

It didn't go out with the water! It made it worse, i think because the water pushed the wax out of the tin quite forcefully, which made it flare up.
I can't actually remember how we put it out in the end but there's a 6 inch burn mark on the carpet still. It was really frightening!

OrangeFlower14 · 02/08/2026 00:55

Why is no one being safe with their candles

frenchnoodle · 02/08/2026 05:30

OrangeFlower14 · 02/08/2026 00:55

Why is no one being safe with their candles

I think because they are only decorative now days a lot of people have never learnt actually candle safety.

BertieBotts · 02/08/2026 12:28

I don't think I've seen candles in tins aside from tealights.

I've just looked up, and there are British / EU safety standards for candles, which suggests that it's possible for a candle to be constructed in a safe vs risky way. Now I've seen that, I would probably avoid purchasing candles from any online marketplace like amazon/Temu etc where they often seem to sidestep these guidelines, and possibly also from craft fairs or places like Etsy, though you could talk to the seller in that case and ask how they ensure their candles meet safety standards.

And then if you buy from a physical store then check whether there are any safety instructions (e.g. about what kind of surface to use) and be sure to follow them. Some candles are only designed to be used within a particular kind of holder, I think that's likely to be the case with anything where the outer case of the candle itself becomes hot.

For future reference, to put out a fire you either need to cool it down significantly, which is why water can work, or smother the flow of oxygen to the fire. When the fire is fuelled by some kind of liquid, like oil/grease or melted wax, water can be dangerous because it just spreads the fuel out since greasy fluids float on water. This is why some fire extinguishers use foam or powder. Water should also never be used on electrical fires as it can cause short-circuit sparks.

So to smother a fire when water is not working or could be dangerous, cover it with something heavy and non-flammable, like a fire blanket if you have one, an upside down saucepan, a candle extinguisher, a heavy coat or blanket, or a good makeshift measure is to soak a teatowel in water, wring it out so that it is not dripping, and use that.

And one last thing, if you ever experience a rechargeable battery fire, do not try to extinguish it, just get everyone out ASAP and call the fire brigade. Those are extremely dangerous as they burn at such high temperatures and home methods to put them out are not enough, you will hurt yourself trying.

Coconutter24 · 02/08/2026 12:59

AmIrightAmIright · 02/08/2026 00:34

These are quite dangerous I think. My DS left one burning on a carpet once, it melted the synthetic fibres and he couldn't pick it up because it was so hot. It then caught fire with a huge flame when he poured water on it to try to extinguish it.
We were both pretty shocked.

Surely anyone would know not to burn a candle on a carpet?

spokenorchid · 02/08/2026 14:33

Coconutter24 · 02/08/2026 12:59

Surely anyone would know not to burn a candle on a carpet?

Common sense these days appears to be anything but common.

Topseyt123 · 02/08/2026 14:45

I've heard of several instances of this sort of thing happening and it is the main reason I don't like candles. I worry about it.

I don't have them in the house except for a couple of tiny ones that are used on birthday cakes and therefore blown out almost straight away. I don't want them as gifts either and don't give them. If I get them I am obviously suitably grateful to the giver, but they go to the charity shop next time I am near it. Too much of a fire hazard.

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