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Original poster

To think candles are really dangerous?

55 replies

Shadow666 · 30/10/2017 10:56

I was thinking about Claudia Winkleman's daughter and her accident when her Halloween costume caught fire a few years ago when she brushed against a Jack O'lantern someone had left on the floor as a decoration. Claudia advocates very strongly for costumes to be flame retardant but I wonder why she has never mentioned the dangers of leaving open flames lying around. I mean, it's pretty dangerous when you think about it. Last year, I made a small display including candles outside for Halloween and my cat must have stepped over it and burnt his tummy. I was so mad at myself. He was ok, just sore for a week or so, but it couldn't have been much worse.

Since then we only use LED tealights in our Jack O'lanterns and lanterns, and do you know what? They're brilliant. They are safe, reasonable and last ages. And you don't have to worry about anyone getting hurt. I know a lot of people do use them, but I wonder why there isn't more campaigning on the dangers of candles. Or perhaps there is and I missed it.

A friend posted on Facebook about a storm coming and she was getting the candles ready. She has kids and cats, I did warn her that candles in a storm are really dangerous and she can pick up some LED lanterns really cheaply these days.

Does anyone else feel like this? Or am I just being bonkers.

OP posts:
Sgtmajormummy · 30/10/2017 12:08

I made a pumpkin jack o'lantern about 12 years ago and we kept it for a week, by which time it was tinder dry.
A little 6yo friend came to play and asked if we could light the candle. I did (supervising adult) and within seconds it was spouting flames through the eyes and mouth. Shock
Luckily it was on a metal tray and I was able to dump it in the sink and douse the flames.
LED tealights since then.

WhoKn0wsWhereTheSlimeGoes · 30/10/2017 12:08

I stopped using scented candles for a few years when the DCs were tiny, I worried that I'd hear a cry from upstairs or another room and forget to put them out before going through or worse going to bed leaving them lit because I was so tired all the time.

The year Claudia's daughter was injured we went to a Hallowe'en party, the hosts had put tealights in tiny glass jars all along the garden path and DD (then about 8) had been wearing a long witches dress with trailing ankle length ends. It really wasn't very safe and we only use battery ones now. I also stress the need to watch out for your costume around real ones when she goes trick or treating.

EdgarAllanPO · 30/10/2017 12:12

I'm a candle fan, but now use electric tart warmers. I had a small fire a few years ago when I had a candle lit and some flower petals dropped unto the flame and set the rest of the flowers on fire along with my hall table. Thank goodness we where in the kitchen and the smoke alarm went off to alert us. I never leave candles unattended now when I do have occasion to light them.
I like the battery operated ones and you can get some pretty realistic looking types.
I loved my hall table but it was beyond repair and had to wallpaper my hallway, could have been a lot worse if it had caught the door curtains.

allegretto · 30/10/2017 12:20

I agree. People completely underestimate the danger. Our church used to fill the churchcwith candles on the back of pews for the carol service until a woman set her coat alight....

sparklewater · 30/10/2017 12:27

The campaign was about the classification of costumes as toys - meaning they didn't need to meet the same fire safety standards as clothing - of course candles are dangerous but that wasn't the problem

Actually, as they are classified as toys, costumes are required to meet GREATER fire safety standards than clothing. Even school uniform doesn't have any sort of fire safety standards attached; the only clothing that is subject to fire safety standards is nightwear.

A pretty bridesmaids dress with a net skirt is just as likely to catch alight as a witches dress or vampire's cape.

Original poster
Shadow666 · 30/10/2017 12:40

I guess what I think is that the campaign was never going to be effective. Kids like costumes, parents like cheap. However, a better campaign would be "Hey, let's not leave naked flames around where young kids in flowing, polyester costumes are walking". A few people on this thread have already changed to LED lights and most others are super-careful with real candles, so for me that would be a more effective message but I guess it's easier to blame big companies like the shops that sell these costumes than the individuals who don't think about the dangers of putting real candles in decorations.

Anyway, no disrespect is meant to Claudia, because that must have been an utterly terrifying thing to happen. I just hope more people will take care and maybe consider the benefits of LED candles and tealights. I think they are great.

OP posts:
mirime · 30/10/2017 12:48

But LED lights won't lead to that lovely roasting pumpkin smell!

My pumpkin goes on a table on a metal tray, with nothing hanging over it, nothing around it and is never left unattended when lit. If I'm going out of the room I blow the candle out. Similarly with scented candles on the rare occasions I use them.

I've had cats for years though so I've always been very careful.

messyjessy17 · 30/10/2017 12:58

but I wonder why she has never mentioned the dangers of leaving open flames lying around

She has. Many times. But since it wasn't possible to do anything about people using candles, and it was possible to change legislation on the production of costumes, she sensibly focused on the area that she could directly and usefully influence.

Original poster
Shadow666 · 30/10/2017 12:59

Also, I forgot to mention it but the friend that was getting the candles out for the storm lives abroad, in a country that has a lot of earthquakes. I was Shock, but she just thought storm = candles and that was being well prepared. It never occurred to her that it was a really bad idea.

OP posts:
allegretto · 30/10/2017 13:04

Why are candles more dangerous in a storm?! We always have candles ready in case there's a power cut.

bumblingbovine49 · 30/10/2017 13:06

I use tea lights in my jack o lantern. I bought a set of 6 about 5 years ago and they still work. I put two in the Jack o Lantern and use the others in different decorations.
I haven't used a real candle in years, though we do have some so I might use them if we had a power cut in an emergency I suppose

Kursk · 30/10/2017 13:15

We use candles, wood stove, oil based heaters, hurricane lanterns on a daily basis in the winter.

Candles go out at night but wood burner keeps going all night.

We had a storm last night and they are all out in force today.

ppeatfruit · 30/10/2017 13:17

If it's a storm in country that has earthquakes!! Think about it, if gas pipes are broken and there are lit candles around then BANG!!!!!

I put a torch in the carved pumpkin on Halloween and leave it outside with no worries .

allegretto · 30/10/2017 13:44

But no countries have continual earthquakes - or earthquakes when there are storms! If that were the case they wouldn't even have gas pipes!

Notso · 30/10/2017 13:45

I'm going to use LED outside after last year when parents were encouraging their children to climb over my wall and planters and pose for photographs with the lit pumpkins in my garden. Previously I felt these were barrier enough but not anymore, a toddler knocked a pumpkin over and I don't want to feel responsible for an injury.

Katedotness1963 · 30/10/2017 13:47

We put those glow sticks into our pumpkins. I use scented candles indoors but they go in the fireplace or on the centre of the table.

ppeatfruit · 30/10/2017 13:48

Well you just need to have a supply of torches allegretto It's not too difficult.

allegretto · 30/10/2017 13:52

True. But we have both - there's only so many batteries you can store! In any case I don't see the link between earthquakes, storms and candles.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/10/2017 14:00

I think it's a cost/benefit analysis. I want DD to know about fire and how to respect safety precautions. I don't want to introduce a whole new slew of plastics into the environment. I think a tea light inside a wet pumpkin is fairly safe if it is out of reach and not left alone.

One of the issues in the UK is alcohol. Alcohol and candles. Alcohol and cooking. Alcohol and smoking. Don't get pissed if there is flammable shit going on.

corythatwas · 30/10/2017 14:02

I grew up in a culture where candles are far more central to practically every celebration. Otoh most people I knew there don't drink much and children are trained in fire safety (or held close while too young to be trained). My family have had real candles in their Christmas tree since Christmas trees were first introduced, countless generations of children have grown up with this, nobody has ever had a candle-related accident. We know when the candles are lit you hold on to your children.

SlothMama · 30/10/2017 14:39

For our pumpkins I've put in LED tealights, I picked them up in one of the poundshop and are safer than candles.
I love my candles inside my home though, I keep them well out of reach of my dogs and I don't light them when my Godchildren are round.

Commuterface · 30/10/2017 15:06

I agree OP. We have a no candle policy at home - I'm terrified of fire. I remember when I still lived at home, I'd come back from studying in the US at Christmas and bought my mother some Yankee Candles (couldn't get them in the UK then) in Christmas scents. She lit one in the fireplace and we went to have a catch up in the kitchen. I nipped back into the sitting room to get something and a Christmas card had fallen on the lit candle and caught fire. It certainly taught me a lesson on how to not be so trivial with naked flames.

MsPasspartout · 30/10/2017 17:50

We got some Halloween themed LED tea lights last year. Either from the Co-op or Tesco, can’t quite remember.

They had button batteries, and the battery compartment could be opened very easily by hand. No screws keeping it closed.

So no naked flames but it’d still be unwise to leave them unattended near a small child.

TowerRavenSeven · 30/10/2017 17:55

Yanbu. I rarely burn real candles any more. I have a wax burner for scent but for 'light' use tea light battery candles. We live in a very arid place and the threat of fire is one I take very seriously.

messyjessy17 · 30/10/2017 18:38

If it's a storm in country that has earthquakes!! Think about it, if gas pipes are broken and there are lit candles around then BANG!!!!!

So no country that has had an earthquake should ever use candles? You can't actually be serious with that one?

I've been using candles for various reasons for 40 years, I've never had or seen a fire of any kind. All you need is basic common sense.