NC woman warning others after candle explodes, nearly burns house down
A North Carolina woman is warning others after she said a candle in her home spewed flames and sent scalding wax flying. Valentine Chavis posted photos of the aftermath on Facebook. The photos show the candle charred and melted, where the hot wax splattered all around it.
Chavis said the candle was purchased from Bath & Body Works. In a statement, the company told WCNC:
“We are very sorry that this happened and are taking the situation extremely seriously. The safety of our customers is our number one priority. The company said decades of testing have proven the candles are safe if they’re used in accordance with the printed instructions, which include trimming the wicks to a quarter inch before lighting and never burning them for more than four hours".
Chavis said their candle had only been burning for about 30 minutes. “I am 44 years old," Chavis said. "I know how to light a candle." And their candle close call wasn’t the only one. Nest camera video from last year shows the moments when a candle shot flames right into Ashley Brawley’s face. She said she was trying to put out a six-inch flame on her Bath & Body Works candle when it exploded. She was rushed to the ER with 1st and 2nd-degree burns from the fire and scalding wax. Over the summer, Morgan Singer said her candle exploded after being lit for less than an hour. “I was just having wine sitting by the island and it popped up and exploded," she said. Charlotte Fire is now warning people to be aware of how quickly this could happen, and exactly why you should never leave candles unattended.
Valentina Chavis is with Savannah Hunt 8 January 2020
WARNING ‼️‼️‼️‼️ If you use candles from bath and body works PLEASE keep an eye on them, If it wasn't for my daughter today my house would've burned down. This candle exploded and was on fire when my daughter walked back in my living room. I have wax EVERYWHERE, I called bath and body works to let them know that this particular candy exploded and almost caught my house on fire, she told me to bring the candle back and they will exchange it, I said no ma'am don't want anymore candles from there I was just informing you that this happened.
The moment a mother was left with severe facial burns after flames from a scented candle exploded into a fireball when she tried to blow it out
A Texas mother has been left severely burned after flames from a scented candle exploded in her face when she tried to blow it out.
Ashley Brawley is recovering in hospital after the flames from her candle burned her forehead, cheek, nose and lip in the freak accident at her home in Burleson on Sunday. The horrific ordeal was captured on surveillance cameras set up in Brawley's living room.
In the video, the flames from the three-wick vanilla-scented candle she bought from Bath & Body Works could be seen flickering just outside of the cameras view.
Exploding Candles: The Why, How, And What to Look Out For
Ever wonder what makes candles explode, or why candle fires spread like a wildfire? Have you ever considered not buying candles again because of the fear of a candle explosion? Candles, especially scented and decorative, have aesthetic value in many homes and businesses.
They’re beautiful and aromatic elements that enhance and accentuate your space. Candles, such as aromatherapy for example, can even be therapeutic. But, despite the vastly remarkable features of today’s candles, there is usually an inevitable downside. Today, I want to talk a little about one of those "alleged" downsides: how and why candles can explode and what to look out so that you can prevent them from happening.
If you’ve never experienced an exploding candle, then great because it’s not something that you ever want to experience. But if you have, had a candle explode on you, then you know that it’s not something that you ever want to happen again, and you’re likely afraid of the very thought of it.
Tips to make you a candle pro
CANDLES CAN TURN A SPACE INTO A HOME WITH THEIR WARMTH AND GENTLE PRESENCE, BUT THEY ARE NOT WITHOUT THEIR COMPLICATIONS
Here, we’ll share some tips that will answer your burning candle questions, such as “why does my candle burn down the middle?”, “why is the flame so large?” and “why can’t I smell my scented candle?” Read on and you’ll become a candle burning expert.
THIS CANDLE’S FLAME IS TOO LARGE - A flame that burns too high is also a flame that burns too hot. An exaggerated flame has three main drawbacks: aesthetically, it doesn’t look great, you may be burning through your candle faster and losing some precious burn time, and it is a fire hazard (if the glass isn’t thick enough, too much heat could shatter your candle’s container). A flame that is out of control, flashing, or smoking should be extinguished immediately, as it can be a sign of something wrong with the candle’s composition.
If you find that your candle flames are burning too high, there are two potential causes. One potential cause is that the wick is too “thick” — a decision by the manufacturer which you can’t do much about. The other potential cause is that the wick is too long, and needs to be trimmed. A best practice is to trim the wick to 1/4 of an inch before each burn, ensuring that control of the amount of ‘fuel’ provided to your flame stays within your control. To trim your wick, you can use a wick trimmer — though we find nail clippers and Joyce Chen scissors do the job just as well.
Expert Tips - National Candle Association
- A Calm, Steady Flame - This means that the candle’s burning process is in balance. The wick is efficiently pulling up the right amount of wax, which is then being “consumed” by the flame to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide.
- No Flickering or Wisps of Smoke - Constant flickering and smoking occur when the teardrop shape of the flame is disturbed. This allows small amounts of unburned carbon particles (soot) to escape from the flame as a visible wisp of smoke. If too much (or too little) air reaches the candle flame, it will disturb the flame’s teardrop shape, causing it to soot. To avoid this, always burn your candles in a well-ventilated room, away from drafts, vents or strong air currents.
- No Flare Ups or Leaping Flames - A too-long wick can cause a candle flame to grow too long and flare. That’s why it is so important to trim the wick to ¼ inch before every use. Always keep the wax pool free of wick trimmings, matches and other debris that could catch fire from the flame. If you like to group your candles, make sure they are at least 3 inches apart when burning. Candles placed too closely together can create their own draft and cause the candles to flare.
- Burning a Candle Safely - Remember, a lighted candle is an open flame. Be careful. Always follow the basic rules of fire safety when burning candles.
A few simple rules and best practices are all you need to keep your candles in tip-top shape:
- Always store your candles in a cool, dark and dry place. Tapers or dinner candles should be stored flat to preventing warping.
- You can remove dust and fingerprints from a candle by gently rubbing the surface with a piece of nylon or a soft cloth. The cloth can be dry or slightly dampened with water.
- Wax drippings can be removed from most candleholders by running hot water over them. Some home care experts prefer removing wax by first placing the candleholder in the freezer for an hour or so. This allows the wax to shrink and easily pop out when the candleholder is removed from the freezer.
- Never use a knife or a sharp object to remove wax drippings from a glass votive holder. It might scratch or weaken the glass, causing it to break upon subsequent use.
- Avoid burning candles in any glass item not specifically designed for candles. Glass candleholders are specifically manufactured to withstand the temperature changes that occur when burning a candle. Everyday glassware is not designed for burning candles.
- Votive holders will clean more easily afterward if you add a few drops of water to the glass before inserting the candle. Caution: Don’t add more than a few drops of water and don’t add water unless you intend to burn the candle immediately afterward. Over time, a candle wick could absorb the water and won’t burn properly.
- Avoid placing your candles where they will be directly exposed to sunlight or harsh indoor lighting, such as a spotlight. Candles may fade if they are left in bright light for an extended period of time.
Candle Safety
Don't forget to blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed
Candles may be pretty to look at but they are a cause of home fires — and home fire deaths. Remember, a candle is an open flame, which means that it can easily ignite anything that can burn.
Ever wondered how to blow candles out properly? Well the secret is to NOT blow them out if you want to ensure maximum burn time and optimum fragrance
"Candle With Care" Safety Tips:
- Blow out all candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Avoid the use of candles in the bedroom and other areas where people may fall asleep.
- Keep candles at least 1 foot away from anything that can burn.
- Think about using flameless candles in your home. They look and smell like real candles.
- Never leave a child alone in a room with a burning candle. Keep matches and lighters up high and out of children’s reach, in a locked cabinet.
- Use candle holders that are sturdy, and won’t tip over easily.
- Put candle holders on a sturdy, uncluttered surface.
- Light candles carefully. Keep your hair and any loose clothing away from the flame.
- Don’t burn a candle all the way down — put it out before it gets too close to the
- holder or container.
- Never use a candle if oxygen is used in the home.
- Have flashlights and,battery-powered lighting ready to use during a power outage. Never use candles.
How to Extinguish a Candle
Putting out a candle may not seem like a task that requires much explanation, but you might be surprised at how many different ways there are to do it, and the effects each has on the life of the candle. Should you simply blow out the flame, or is it better to use another object to stifle it? Is it safe to use your fingers if there’s nothing else around?
The short answer is that different methods will work best for different purposes:
- Blowing out the Candle
- Using a Candle Snuffer
- Drenching the Wick in Wax
- Putting out the Flame with Your Fingers
How to Blow Out a Candle
When you blow candles out, smoke happens. This is because the wick is still extremely hot and is reacting with the oxygen in the air. The smokey smell that comes from this tends to spoil the beautiful fragrance that you've had wafting in the room up to this point. Instead of blowing, you can snuff the candle out using a traditional candle snuff. This starves the flame of oxygen and ensures less smoking. Snuffs can be difficult to come across and tricky to use if the candle has burned low in the jar. Covering the candle jar with a heat proof plate to starve it of oxygen also works well when the candle is burned well down inside the jar.
Another option for fragranced candles though is to quickly dip the flame into the liquid wax. You can use a knife or tweezers to do this - just make sure whatever you use is metal and you are careful not to burn your fingers while doing this or touch it after it's been close to the flame. This will kill the flame instantly and prevent any smoke. It will also coat the wick in wax meaning that they candle will light faster the next time. Always remember to re-centre and trim the wick after every burn to prolong the life of your candle and prevent smoking.
As always, remember to burn your candles until the entire top of the candle is liquid wax and never ever burn your candle for more than 3 hours as it won't throw any more fragrance beyond this time. Top tip - extinguish it after 3 hours, allow the wax to solidify, trim the wick and light again.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO EXTINGUISH A CANDLE
Wick dipping in action
You have purchased a beautiful candle and if you are a ‘burner’ not a ‘keeper’ you light your candle. It may be helpful to now know what is the best way to extinguish a candle:
BLOWING OUT A CANDLE - I don’t recommend blowing out a candle. You risk the hot molten wax going on your face and possibly the surrounding area. It also makes the wax uneven so subsequent burns are uneven. You are also left with a smoke scented room.
SNUFFING OUT A CANDLE - The silver lids that can be purchased with the candles make a great snuffer, and i have always encouraged using this as a safe way of extinguishing a candle. It does mean that your wick is getting suffocated by smoke and guess what its going to smell of when you next light it.
WICK DIPPING - This is my new favourite craze! when the candle is ready to be extinguished, very carefully push the wick over into the molten wax then bring it back up again. Ideally use a wick dipper which you can purchase Wick dipper so no smoke to taint the fragrance!
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