It’s Fire Prevention Week

Numbers show candle fires have tripled over the last decade. To call public attention to the dangers of lighted candles, this year’s national fire prevention week is focusing on ways to use candles with care.

Nunavik is celebrating Fire Prevention Week Oct. 17 to 23 by conducting home inspections of smoke detectors, doing fire drills in school and handing out information.

Fire Prevention Week was established in 1911 to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. From October 8 to 9 of that year, fire killed more than 250 people and destroyed more than 2,000 acres.

Here are some tips for safe candle use:

* Never burn candles in bedrooms;
* Set up a ‘kid-free’ zone around burning candles: no playing with or near candles, with candle wax, or with things that could catch fire near candles;
* Keep candles at least a foot away from anything that could catch on fire;
* Don’t put candles in windows or doorways where the wind could knock them over, or blow things into them that could catch on fire;
* Keep matches and lighters up high, out of children’s sight and reach, preferably in a locked cabinet;
* Make sure to use candle-holders that are sturdy and won’t tip over easily, and are big enough to catch any wax that drips from the candle;
* Don’t let kids light candles;
* Put out candles by blowing softly. Be careful of splattering wax;
* If the power does go out, use flashlights and lights that use batteries.