do you use candles when there is power outage?
By Cutie18f
@Cutie18f (9551)
Philippines
December 8, 2012 9:23am CST
A lot of fires had been started by candles which had been unattended. That is why some people do not use candles, especially when they have children at home. However, when there are many days of power interruptions, candles are the most convenient and cheapest way of getting our house lighted.
I had a very scary experience related to candles a couple of years ago, so I am careful about using it. I now buy the short fat candles, ones that don't break or fall easily. Then I'd put these short candle in a container that will keep it in until it is all used up. I'd place this candle at the sink where there is water nearby.
How about you? Do you use candles during brown outs or black outs?
2 people like this
35 responses
@ladygator (3465)
• United States
10 Dec 12
I use candles when the power goes out. And I use candles at other times just because I want to. I am very attentative to the candles and I also am careful to place them in a proper place so that no fires can be started. I have been using candles for years. I think that its just about being sure that you dont have them close to something that can catch on fire or in a place that they could fall from.
1 person likes this
@riempie9 (1021)
• South Africa
10 Dec 12
I would be so scared to fall asleep knowing that a candle is burning in the house. Fires can be spread not only by falling objects, but also from the wind - which can blow into fabric and cause a fire. It makes me nervous just reading this. Are these candles in a container? Do not take unnecessary chances.
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
9 Dec 12
Hi friend, Previously we used candles during power cuts, but now we are facing power problems frequently and candles are not enough for us, so we use emergency light to come out from power issues
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
9 Dec 12
yes, still we have power problems. Hope it will be solved soon. Thanks for your wishes, hope i will reach 10k posts soon
@nitinnair89 (2900)
• India
9 Dec 12
Hi Vidya, does your area/place still have power cuts? I thought it was stopped. It is no more in my area though. I hope the same from your side too. Emergency lights were a must those days..now even fashion came in them..lol..Take care..congraulations for raching 4k ratings.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
9 Dec 12
The house that we are staying in right now for the last 8 years have been built in the late 60's but this was just acquired by my in laws in 2000. From the time this was built, I don't think that it has gone to any repair, and some of the panels and paints are slowly getting off. I am so fearful that it might just collapse if my kids would be jumping up and down our room!
Since the house is almost all wood, I do take extra precaution when using candles during a power outage. I place the candle inside pan filled with water. And as much as possible I use candles that are short and thick instead of the long and thin ones.
Since the house is almost all wood, I do take extra precaution when using candles during a power outage. I place the candle inside pan filled with water. And as much as possible I use candles that are short and thick instead of the long and thin ones.
@ungu89 (1999)
• Malaysia
9 Dec 12
we here are not so often have a power broke down.
usually if there no electric is just for a few hour.
i think the longest i have is about 1 day, is just because there is something wrong with the main power at our neighborhood.
personally i don't like to use candle, because like u said, we will never know what might happen. if we put many candles around the house. maybe bad thing might be happen.
normally we just use torchlight or he light from the handphone
have a nice day!
@Pen_Pal777 (245)
• Philippines
8 Dec 12
i don't use candles during brown outs, i have here a chargeable lamp, and i also have a kerosene lamp which i use during long power outages.
@prashu228 (37526)
• India
8 Dec 12
ohh i don't know that people still using kerosene lamps . I mean we are not getting kerosene here , already. Most of the people stopped using due to its scarcity. Rechargeable lamps are good .
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
8 Dec 12
Yes I do as long as I'm wide awake and keeping an eye on the candle. We don't have pets any longer but when we had a cat, I had to be extremely careful. She loved to get to the light and warmth so I had to put it way up on a dresser or simply not light a candle. I also keep flashlights in the house and have a battery operated lantern which is great. If the power goes out, I can still work on crafts since I don't use electricity for my crafts. One Christmas my sister-in-law left a candle lit on the top of the toilet. Guess it was too close to the wall paper and started a fire. We quickly got it out but it was scarey. Can never be too careful when using candles.
@bluerubymoon53 (3286)
• United States
8 Dec 12
I have used candles for lighting while the electricity was off. I use tea light candles for that. You know, those little candles that are in a little tin container. Then I put 4 or 5 of them on a large dinner plate and place it on a counter where there were no other items that would be near them. 4 or 5 of those little candles put out plenty of light to get around in the room. I have also used battery operated lanterns.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
8 Dec 12
Yes I do use candles, also when there is electricity. I never had a fire in my life. There are plenty of ways to burn a candle safely.
@Angelpink (4035)
• Philippines
8 Dec 12
You got it right ! Short candles are better than that of taller ones because there is tendency for it to fall thus causing fire if unattended. I don't used candles because
in my mind it can really cause fire since we have lots to do aside from watching our candle . Better use rechargeable lamps and flaslight , they are so convenient to use , economical , safe and affordable. You would be worry free , can stay overnight and they will last years and years if they are just well taken but you must have precaution in charging these lamps , unplug it if you're going out or sleeping for might cause electrical problem and worst can cause fire.
@cluelle (132)
• Canada
8 Dec 12
It's definitely important to consider what kind of candles to use in an emergency. A few years ago, we had a blackout and used a decorative candle inside a curved glass cup, with a fat bottom and a narrow opening. When my father tried to blow the candle out, the liquid wax splattered around his eye. He closed it in time, so there was only a little damage around the corners, but we've made sure to use open candles and proper lamps since.
...I forgot how scary those couple of hours were!
@nitakb (21)
• United States
8 Dec 12
In my house we use both candles and flashlights. Like we only use candles if we know we are going to be in one room fully awake, and then we use flashlights for when we need to walk around the house like to and from the kitchen or to the bathroom. During the summer when he had entire block black outs we would use flashlights and save on the candles. I personally don't like using candles because I'm scared that I will leave them unattended and a fire will start.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
8 Dec 12
I don't think we have a single candle in the house, in all honesty, we have plenty of torches which are a lot safer than candles and obviously give out more light, the only downside of course is that drain the batteries quick. I guess you can't afford to be too choosy when it comes to a blackout.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
10 Dec 12
Hi!
Yes, you are right that candles could be a fire hazard if not lit and kept safely. We do not use candles, during the power cut. We have a device called 'inverter' in our house, which runs on huge batteries and these devices produce alternative electricity during power cut up to few hours.
Yes, you are right that candles could be a fire hazard if not lit and kept safely. We do not use candles, during the power cut. We have a device called 'inverter' in our house, which runs on huge batteries and these devices produce alternative electricity during power cut up to few hours. 
@prospectboy (754)
• United States
16 Dec 12
It's funny that I came across this discussion. There was a power outage here last week, and it lasted for quite a long time. So long that I ended up going to sleep before the power came back on. Anyway, yes I do use candles when there is a power outage. Especially when it's one that lasts for longer than an hour or so. It definitely doesn't hurt to keep them around.
@prashu228 (37526)
• India
8 Dec 12
yes we usually use candles when there is power outage. yes keeping the candle near the water is good for safety purpose. I do it.
