Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. And the reason the mouse was hiding in his little hole in the wall was that the family pet was a big old tabby. Often, we enjoy some ambiance, and setting candles around a home is one way to do this. The Bennet home (not the real name) was a nice split-level home in the country, with a large family room located four steps down from the kitchen on the first level of the basement. With a big TV hung on the wall, a comfortable couch, a big bowl of popcorn, and a movie in the DVD player, the Bennets were snuggling in for some nice family time on a cold winter’s night. To further set the mood, Mom had placed a couple of candles in the high basement window sills, adding a little warmth to the room.
A knock on the door stops the movie, and everyone, including the kids, rushes upstairs to see who is at the door. Everyone except the old tabby, who is interested in the flickering candle and its reflection in the window. Next thing you know, the candle is knocked off the ledge and onto the floor. It only takes a few seconds for the drapes to catch fire. When the family returns only a few minutes later, the fire is well underway. Dad makes a quick call to the fire department while Mom gets the kids out of the house. Even though it has only been a few minutes, by this time the fire is well past fighting with the small extinguisher located nearby in the kitchen. By the time we arrive with the fire trucks, the basement is fully involved, smoke is filling most of the house, and there is some structural damage to the floor above the fire. The fire is extinguished quickly, but the Bennets don’t get back into their home for several months. The good news is that everyone, including the family’s old tabby, is safe.
Candles are nice if you don’t have young children or animals and you take the necessary precautions. Today, they make beautiful flameless candles that look and feel like the real thing, and the artificial flame provides a realistic light for everyone to enjoy, even your old tabby.
Have a Merry and Safe Christmas
Take the necessary fire safety precautions, especially around young children and/or animals.