The recent house fire on University Hill in April is a costly reminder of the potential danger of everyday household items like candles, according to Tom Carney, the emergency management coordinator for the University of Colorado at Boulder.
An unattended candle caused the April 21 fire, which gutted the house and left 10 people homeless, including eight CU-Boulder students, while also damaging many of their possessions.
"The result of this fire is tragic, especially right before finals," Carney said. "It also serves as a reminder for the rest of us that items like candles are dangerous and need to be monitored. The only positive aspect of this event is nobody was injured."
During the past two years, there have been 11 fires in Boulder directly attributed to candles, according to Sherry Kenyon, fire safety coordinator with the Boulder Fire Department. While damaging property, the fires also displaced 34 students. Kenyon also noted that during 1997-98, the last year figures were available, fires caused by candles increased 24 percent nationally.
"We recommend that students donÂ’t use candles, but if they do, they have to be really careful and take precautions like using a noncombustible base for the candle, and putting the candle out before leaving the room or falling asleep," Carney said.
While university residence halls provide basic fire safety measures like fire sprinkler systems, alarm systems and fire drills, and have rules prohibiting halogen lights and candles, many students only live in residence halls their freshman year.
"For many of these students, moving off campus into a house or apartment is their first taste of living independently," Carney said. "We just want them to remember to take fire precautions, and have plans for escape in case of a fire, because there is no longer somebody reminding them about these things."
Â鶹ÒùÔº who do have candles in their homes should remember to put them on noncombustible bases that will collect hot wax and keep the flame from spreading, he said.
"The most important thing to remember is these fires are preventable. The easiest way to prevent a fire when using candles is to never, never leave them unattended," Carney said.