AIBU to be worried about candles?

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Just had a word with my neighbours about rising electricity prices and she mentioned getting the candles out. Previously chatting to MIL she mentioned lanterns and a bit later I realised she meant lanterns to put candles in rather than a battery powered or solar camping type lantern. She is getting elderly and quite shaky.

AIBU to be concerned that there are going to be a lot more house fires this winter? We live on the top floor of a block of flats. The thought of our very elderly downstairs neighbour using candles in her flat gives me the collywobbles! I'm very strict with the Dc about candles, they're only used on the dining room table and last person to leave blows them out.

Yep. It's going to happen. Some of the suggestions I've heard for lighting and heating houses this winter have been terrifying.

Scary. :-(
Even people who are ok - a gust of wind, a cat knocking one over..

I remember having a nightlight in a saucer of water when I slept at my Grandma's.

YANBU, although it's not just candles though - I think there will be more house fires because of desperate people with no experience of fires burning the wrong things in the wrong way in the wrong places, such as under blocked chimneys. And people may sneer about that, but if people are freezing and panicking they may do unwise things to just try to keep warm.

I think it would be smart to have a big campaign reminding people not to light fires in their home unless they have a proper place and materials to do so.

I remember a school friend having a house fire due to her sibling falling asleep without blowing a candle out. It was a bad fire and her sibling was trapped but was rescued seconds before the ceiling caved in. She had PTSD and was off school for some time.

another boy I knew died after camping in his shed with friends. They used a candle for light and the shed went up in flames. Him and his friends burned to death, it was horrifying.

I’ve always been weary of candles because of those stories and would only allow them in the bathroom and on the mantelpiece, and never lit at night.

I’ve had the same concerns as you OP, especially for the frail elderly.

Yes, that’s not good.

Could you perhaps buy the neighbour downstairs a couple of battery lanterns and give them as a gift, if you can afford it. I think you can get them fairly cheaply on eBay. I wouldn’t fancy living above someone lighting candles, especially if they are elderly and likely to nod off in the chair etc 😱

Had this discussion with very elderly relatives, despite me saying get rechargeable head torches they are hell bent on using candles if there are power cuts.

House fire is a big fear of mine. OH suggested buying candles and i just said i couldn't bear it. We have 1 torch that sits up like a lantern, so we just bought a second one and spare batteries. I would be really anxious if i had close neighbours.

Yes, someone who works in the fire service was saying to me the other week that he definitely expects to see more house fires this winter, for this very reason.

@StrongTea that was exactly MIL's reaction when I later queried exactly what type of lantern she meant. She's not going to go and buy something else when she has candles. The neighbour I spoke to immediately said a battery powered camping lantern was a good idea and that they would get one. I'm not quite sure how to or if I should raise it with the elderly neighbour, I don't know her all that well, and she is rather deaf so a conversation is awkward.

I wouldn’t worry about it but yes, you’re probably right.

I've not heard the National Grud is warning or predicting blackouts. People might talk candles to save money but realistically not many of us have had cause to use them since the powercuts of the 70s. It was not fun. They're really not great for doing anything by so although people might talk about it, in reality I can't see many people using them more than once. 😄

Most people are used to tea lights and have suitable holders. We don't have a lot of accidents now. I thought most of the recent house fires have been caused by malfunctioning electrical items.

There won't be any candles in this house. I hate them. They scare me.

I agree that house fires are a worry this winter as people with no common sense try to get creative to conserve energy.

You shouldn't be able to knock a candle over. Either they should have a very low centre of gravity like a tea light. Or preferably they should be in a heavy based hurricane lamp that weighs too much to tip over.

We've had intermittent power for years and use candles periodically in hurricane lamps. Ds learned to use them in the garden. . They are no trouble. Battery power is great until it runs out! We only use torches for going to bed (no candles upstairs).

If people don't know this stuff, yes, there is an increased risk.

Yanbu. I’m also worried that people will use camping stoves to cook indoors - this isn’t safe due to the carbon monoxide.

Never light candles in the house. I have a friend who covers her entire living room with lot candles... literally could be more than twenty or thirty. So so stupid.

We have some LED tealights. You can also get battery operated lamps.

@Winceybincey I had a school friend in the exact same scenario. I never have candles now.

Candles cost far more than running electric lights! A standard led light costs pennies a day whereas even cheap candles will cost a lot more for the same period of time

Surely keep replacing batteries would cost more than the electricity. I really don't think many people will be doing this.

@Cheeselog - you're probably right, even though, again, I'm pretty sure it won't save money at all, but I think desperate people can be forgiven a lot.

I've heard of people planning to bring BBQs and fire pits indoors. And I'm sure people will open up chimneys without checking they aren't actually blocked off or in need of sweeping. Desperate people do desperate things.

When I was on fire training at work, the fireman doing the training said he doesnt own any candles as he is afraid of what they do. He said the amount of house fires he attended due to candles has frightened him for life. He told us all never to light candles in our homes, not even one candle.

I have fallen asleep with a candle lit, so I dont buy them now.

Surely its cheaper to use a 5w led lightbulb?

Its about 5p for 12 hours