NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — For those who want to woo a valentine with a romantic gesture involving candles or cooking, make sure to do it in a memorable and non-flammable manner.
“If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day at home this year, your plans likely include a special meal and candles,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). “Our goal is to help ensure that everyone enjoys the holiday with fire safety in mind.”
According to the NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires and the injuries associated with them year-round. Furthermore, unattended cooking factors into more than a quarter of reported home cooking fires and half of the associated deaths.
Officials shared the following safety tips for cooking:
- Stay in the kitchen when frying, grilling, or broiling food.
- Have a kid-free and pet-free zone of at least 3 feet around the stove.
- Keep a lid nearby when cooking. That way, if a small grease fire starts, you can slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner.
- Set a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
Candles are another leading cause of home fires, which is why the NFPA advises caution when using them.
Based on NFPA data from 2018 to 2022, half of all candle fires start when a flammable object — like furniture, bedding, curtains, home décor, or clothing — was too close to a lit candle. In addition, more than a third of candle fires reportedly began in the bedroom, and more than a fifth of home candle fires involved a candle being left unattended, discarded, or otherwise misused.
Officials urge people to consider using battery-operated, flameless candles, which are similar to real candles but eliminate the risk of fire.
However, if you still plan to use actually candles, NFPA offered a few recommendations:
- Don’t use lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms, or sleeping areas.
- Use stable candle holders.
- Place candles where they can’t be knocked over.
- Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn.
- Keep hair and loose clothing away from the flame.
- Don’t burn a candle all the way down. Instead, put it out before it gets too close to the holder or container.
- Store matches and lighters up high — out of reach for children — and preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed.
Follow these links to learn more about cooking safety or candle safety. The NFPA also encourages people to make sure they have working smoke alarms and practice a home escape plan.
