Winter and the holiday season is the time for decorative candles, but leaving candles and other fires unattended this winter could pose a danger if steps aren’t taken to contain the danger before anything happens.
The first seven months of 2006 brought a 70 percent increase from the year before in residential fires in San Diego, according to the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department.
One of the most recent was a residential fire in South Mission Beach on the 800 block of Aspen Court, Tuesday, Dec. 26.
The fire started at approximately 5:30 a.m., injuring two people. One person was hospitalized for burns and another person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. The fire was started when a couch near a floor furnace ignited.
The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of Red Cross also announced that residential fires dominated its disaster relief responsibilities for 2006. The local chapter provided services for 215 residential fires ” the largest were a multi-unit apartment downtown that displaced 15 families, and a fire at the Bell Hotel, 1492 K St., which affected 40 adults.
As we enter a new year, there are many things residents can do in order to lower the risk of starting a fire in their home this winter season.
“Being attentive and being aware of what you’re doing and where you have fires. Think worse case when you’re dealing with fire”¦and it’s always good to have a smoke alarm.” San Diego Fire and Rescue Department Maurice Luque said.
The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has released a report documenting the trends in residential fire statistics. According to the report, 40 percent of residential fires caused by candles started in bedrooms. An additional 17 percent started in living rooms, dens or common rooms according to the report.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department, candles have caused 53 structure fires this fiscal year and stand out as a leading cause. Since January 2006, fires caused by candles have led to the deaths of four people and injured nine others. The fires caused more than $3.7 million in property damage, said Luque. This is an increase from 2005, which reported four deaths, two injuries and $1.3 million in damage.
However, the trend can change if everyone pays more attention to fire safety by using common sense, being more attentive and following simple guidelines when it comes to managing a small fire before it burns out of control. According to the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, there are certain things residents can do to immediately reduce their risk:

“¢ Never leave candles unattended
“¢ Don’t leave any materials around or close to a burning candle
“¢ Keep candles away from drafts or vents
“¢ Be sure to extinguish all flames and candles before going to bed or leaving the room
“¢ Keep candles away from children and pets
“¢ Do not allow candles in children’s bedrooms
“¢ Place candles in sturdy holders so they cannot be easily knocked over
“¢ Extinguish candles after using them during a power outage. It is better to use a flashlight during a power outage.
“¢ Trim candle wicks to 1/2 inch before using them
“¢ Do not burn candles for more than four hours at a time
“¢ Extinguish taper or pillar candles when they get within 2 inches of the holder
“¢ Keep matches, wick trimmings and foreign objects out of the candle wax

“We’re trying to bring the attention of the public to the serious nature of [fire hazards] and the things people can do to remain safe,” Luque said.
Just being aware of the causes and dangers of fires is the first step in prevention. Other causes of fires are smoking cigarettes, ashes from cigarettes and other controlled fires. Faulty electrical panels are another cause besides candles. Old and faulty wall heaters and furnaces that ignite can also start a fire. Among other causes are old and damaged ovens along with unattended food left on the stove. Even a simple action such as not cleaning the lint out of the clothes dryer can result in an unintended tragedy, Luque said.
But should the unthinkable happen, quick thinking can save lives and millions of dollars in damage. It’s important not to hesitate calling the fire department as soon as there is a sign of a fire. Some make the mistake of trying to put out a fire themselves, which can often times make things worse, especially in a kitchen fire, Luque said.
“Use common sense, don’t take any chances. Sometimes [fighting] turns it into the worst thing in the world. [People] can lose 10 to 15 minutes trying to stop the fire instead of calling right away,” Luque said.