December 2001 (Newstream) -- The National Candle Association (NCA) is issuing an important safety message to consumers, in an effort to keep holiday celebrations safe. NCA believes that nearly 85 percent of candle-related fires could be eliminated by following three simple steps.
Never leave a burning candle unattended Keep candles away from anything flammable Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets In addition, the National Candle Association recommends, trimming the candle wick to 1/4 inch before each use, making sure all matches and debris are out of the candle and keeping candles away from open windows and drafts.
Seven out of ten American households use candles, and more than a third of those candles are purchased during the holiday season.
U.S. retail sales of candles are estimated at 2.3 billion dollars annually. The National Candle Association was founded in 1974 and is the major trade association representing candle manufacturers and suppliers in the United States.
For more on candle safety, you can go to the National Candle Association's website at www.candles.org.
