With cosy dark evenings, and Christmas approaching, we love to burn decorative, often scented, candles. Beware though, the candle burning in the fireplace may look innocent enough, but it’s easy to forget that a lit candle is an open flame and candle fire is a real risk.

Left unattended it could lead to disaster! A card falling from the shelf above, a draft sending a forgotten napkin onto a candle flame could quickly turn into a much bigger flame.

My sister used to put candles amongst the Christmas greenery on her mantelpiece. Very pretty, rustic, festive – but one day the greenery caught fire. Didn’t spread as someone came into the room as it happened, but could have been horrible. A candle fire would have been disastrous!

Children and candles are, too, a dangerous mix, often they don’t understand the danger. Tempted to pick up what looks like a pretty, flickery, thing they suddenly find that hot, molten wax has hurt their fingers.

Understandably they drop the candle, but what if it falls onto a cushion, against a curtain, or onto the Christmas tree? Doesn’t bear thinking about, a candle fire can become an inferno.

The dangers of candles in commercial venues

And the same dangers can exist when in situations where candles are being used at commercial venues. We were at a wedding on Saturday where all the rooms had been liberally decked with tealights. Many of these were on occasional tables, which also contained bowls of sweets and encouraged guests to put down their drinks. As people leaned over the candles, the bottoms of dresses and jackets dangled perilously close to the naked flames.

Even the knowledge that the venue had a professionally fitted fire alarm would not have been sufficient to prevent a nasty burn.

Here’s a list of simple but useful tips, DOs and DON’Ts for using candles safely, avoiding candle fire:

DO: Place candles carefully – always ensure they stand on a stable and static surface, out of the reach of children and pets.

DO: Keep candles well away from flammable things like curtains, cushions, throws, bedding, books, magazines, birthday cards and at this time of year, Christmas cards and most importantly, the Christmas tree!

DON’T: Move candles once they are lit.

DON’T: Burn several candles close together, this creates a concentrated heat and can cause a flame to flare.

DO: Burn candles in a well-ventilated room, but away from drafts, vents or other air currents. This can help prevent uneven burning and wax dripping.

DO: Extinguish candles with a snuffer or a spoon - sparks can fly if you blow candles out, causing candle fire to start in unexpected places. Snuffers make elegant, inexpensive, gifts for relatives and friends who like burning candles.

DO: Always put scented candles in a heat resistant holder. This type of candle is designed to liquefy when heated to maximise the fragrance.

DO:Fit a smoke alarm and test it regularly. A working smoke alarm can buy you life-saving time to get out and call 999. DON’T wait until then to find out if your alarm is working.

DO: Make sure that everyone in your home knows what to do in the event of fire. Brief everyone on the escape route and practise your drill.

There we are, you can relax now - or can you? What other domestic dangers are waiting for you this festive season?

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