The National Fire Protection Association is urging the public to focus on candle safety during its Fire Prevention Week 2005, Oct. 9-15. Emphasis is placed on the need for increased consumer caution, with the theme “Use Candles with Care: When you go out, blow out!”

NFPA's public safety campaign and related materials concentrate on home use of candles. Nine out of 10 reported U.S. candle fires occur in homes.

For example, one of the deadliest fires in Louisiana history killed 11 members of a single family, including seven children, and it was started by a candle. In March, a family moved into their 2-story townhouse and were using tealight candles until their electricity was turned on. A candle on a window sill ignited bedding on the top floor. Family members moved the burning mattress down the stairs, placing it on top of a pile of cardboard boxes while they tried to open the front door. The mattress quickly ignited the boxes, producing too much fire and smoke to escape through. A family member managed to get out of the home and kick down the front door, but the resulting eruption of flames engulfed the front of the house.

Reported home candle fires rose 15% from 2000 to 2001, the most recent data available, from 15,700 to 18,000, continuing a climb that began in 1990 when there were 5,500 candle fires.

Leaving candles unattended was singled out as a serious fire problem: 41% of home candles fires start in the bedroom, resulting in a quarter of associated fire deaths; 11% of home candle fires start after someone falls asleep.

More on home candle fires and trends and fire safety advice can be found in NFPA's Home Candle Fire report, available on the Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org.