BCAA Insurance urges responsible candle use during holidays

BCAA Insurance is cautioning policyholders about the dangers of using candles as Christmas dcor items during the holiday season.”Since the early 1980s, when the popularity of candles grew rapidly, BCAA Insurance has witnessed a steady increase of candle-related claims, particularly surrounding the Christmas holidays,” BCAA Insurance notes in a press release. “Candles now rate as the fourth biggest cause of house fires, following cooking, heating and electrical problems.”Fire Prevention Canada statistics show candles were responsible for 1.1% of home fires in the early 1980s. By 2001, that rate soared to 4.7%.Brooke Hanson, BCAA’s home insurance product manager, says BCAA has already dealt with a number of candle-related claims this season including one Cdn$150,000 claim.”Many people don’t realize how quickly something can go wrong and how severe the consequences can be,” warns Hanson. “Knocked over candles can easily catch alight and engulf a room in less than one minute homeowners need to be constantly on guard.”According to Fire Prevention Canada, the most common candle mishaps include: leaving candles unattended; falling asleep while candles are lit; failing to control small children; pets or sudden drafts; and placing candles too close to flammable objects.