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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Settle a disagreement: AIBU to leave this advent candle burning throughout December including when everyone is out or in bed?

285 replies

EasilyDistracted77 · 09/12/2019 06:45

Picture for context, the candle is inside the glass/metal case.

One of us is saying it's perfectly safe and that's what an advent candle is for. The other is saying a flame should never be left unattended, no matter how safe it seems.

Settle a disagreement: AIBU to leave this advent candle burning throughout December including when everyone is out or in bed?
OP posts:
AlunWynsKnee · 09/12/2019 11:31

I nearly set fire to my house with an unattended candle Blush

Have you got a spare bit of that fake snow you could take into the garden and check how flammable it is?

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 09/12/2019 11:34

That's unnecessarily graphic, KarmaStar.

Thedeadwood · 09/12/2019 11:58

And if he doesn't want to believe us, I suggest he reads the London Fire Brigade's advice:

www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/candles/

Make sure you put out any candles when you leave the room and especially before bed.

also the sobering statistic that In 2018, 220 fires in London were connected to candle use.

tillytrotter1 · 09/12/2019 12:02

Probably been said already, haven't trawled all through, but your insurance could be invalid if you leave a flame burning when you're out. OH doesn't even like going out when the wood burner's going and always douses it before we go to bed.

Frankola · 09/12/2019 12:03

And I thought I had limited common sense...

GlamGiraffe · 09/12/2019 12:08

Go on @EasilyDistracted77 Tell us what you husband has to say about the comments

Rumnraisin · 09/12/2019 12:30

An advent candle doesn’t suddenly make an unattended flame safer does it!! Oh look at me - I’m an advent candle so any safety issues are over ridden by my festive significance!! Confused

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 09/12/2019 12:39

Don’t do it, OP. Stay safe and you and your family can be sure you will be able to enjoy many more Christmasses in your home.

BillywigSting · 09/12/2019 13:45

@DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn

I disagree, this is the potential reality.

My mum used to be an A&E nurse and drummed it into me that this exact situation could happen if candles were left burning unattended. She has dealt with this exact situation (and even had some counselling to help deal with the sheer horror of it).

Leaving candles burning is utterly idiotic.

Knowhowufeel · 09/12/2019 13:51

My cousin almost died in a fire in his top floor flat. This fire was started by a candle that was left alight when he (unintentionally) fell asleep on the sofa. The firefighters managed to rescue him using ladders, etc, but he lost everything and the flat was completely burnt out, so he was made homeless too.

Knowhowufeel · 09/12/2019 13:51

So YABU. Never leave a lit candle unattended.

summersherewishiwasnt · 09/12/2019 13:53

I can’t believe you actually need to ask this?
Yab very irresponsible.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 09/12/2019 13:57

Is this some kind of stupidity test to weed out the #nethuns

theghostofjohnsmith · 09/12/2019 14:04

The title of this thread actually made me shout out loud "yes you fucking are you idiot!"
What is your DH thinking, OP?!
My mother in law once said that "smoke alarms are health and safety gone mad" and that having her windows open would me that her house couldn't possibly catch fire. There were a few smokers living there as well ConfusedAngry. DH and I went out and bought her alarms for the whole house, and made it clear that without them neither we nor our DC's would be staying there. She allowed us to fit them, and I test them when I visit.
My own DM burned her sideboard with a candle. I no longer buy them
for her as gifts, and regularly remind her that they are dangerous.
FFS!

Popc0rn · 09/12/2019 14:08

It doesn't matter that it's in the glass lantern thing; I've had a glass candle jar explode cos it got too hot before.

FirenzeArno · 10/12/2019 14:31

If you really want to leave it lit, get an LED version

cherish123 · 10/12/2019 17:35

Why don't you just blow it out when you are out or in bed?

Toomuchtrouble4me · 10/12/2019 17:50

YABU

Harvestsquirrel1 · 10/12/2019 18:07

Never leave a lit candle unattended. Maybe get a battery operated candle.

Phoenixrising1 · 10/12/2019 18:08

YABU - I lit a candle on the windowsill recently, I was in the room the whole time. I heard a bang and the roman blind at the window had fallen off and landed on the candle. Fortunately it only took me a second to grab the blind and deal with it, if I had been out of the room it would have caught on fire. Totally random thing to happen but you just can't take the risk.

danni0509 · 10/12/2019 18:10

It wouldn't even cross my mind to leave a candle lit when i went to bed.

manicmij · 10/12/2019 18:12

Anyone leaving a naked flame unattended is mad. Air must be getting in to enable candle to burn, dangerous conbination.

Casiloco · 10/12/2019 18:14

Not sure how the picture gives us context if this is not actually the real context ...

Anyway, whatever, massively unreasonable.

ArgusFilchsCat · 10/12/2019 18:18

It's on a nice flammable fake snow mat too. Asking for trouble whether you are home or not in my opinion.

FelicisNox · 10/12/2019 18:19

It's a no from me.