Fire started with candles

[SemCtyDPS]

Two nights ago we had a house fire in the county that started by using candles while the power was out. Unfortunately the house was occupied at the time by a father and his two sons. First thing he did wrong was use candles, second thing he did wrong was try to put out the fire himself rather than call the Fire Department right away. End result was two burned hands for Dad and two children with smoke inhalation. Please be careful out there people. Never ever use candles when the power is out and never ever try to put a fire out yourself without FIRST calling 911.

[alicia-w]

okay, maybe the phones were out. as of yesterday, there were still almost a million people without regular telephone service. dont know the details, but lots of people use candles. isnt that why they sell emergency candles in the store?

[MBryant]

Didn't there used to be something called "Hurricane Lamps"

[GalvestonDuck]

Even those are bad...if not worse. Hurricane lamps use oil. Knock one of those babies down and you've got a real mess with flammable liquid spreading out and a flame following.

The most important thing is -- never use a flame of any kind during a severe storm like this. There can be leaking/broken gas lines, which can make matters worse. Downed phone lines make it hard for 911 calls to get through. Debris in the road can make it hard for firefighters to get to you, as well as the fact that streetsigns get knocked down and landmarks disappear. And finally, it's simply too dangerous for firefighters to get out during the brunt of the storm.

[blumoon]

of course there is a hazard of using candles in any situation. don't you think it is unreasonable to ask they not be used in power outages? Batteries are the first thing to disappear off the shelves, they dont last very long and they are very expensive! I want everyone to be safe but asking people to only use flashlights is not going to be practiced by many..my thoughts...

[GalvestonDuck]

Considering the fact that it doesn't get dark until late, flashlights would only be needed at night. No need to keep them on ALL night, is there? People don't have to see each other to talk to each other (just like being on a phone).

And why don't most people stock up on batteries in the early preparedness months, instead of when a storm threatens? They sell cool little battery-operated lanterns that glow enough to light a whole room, if you need it. And the batteries are the same kind used by most remote controls and portable radios/CD players. So, it's not like they'd go to waste.

[Juno Beach]

Another fire was started down here because a family was cooking on the stove when their power went out. They didn't think to turn off the stove.

I guess they eventually evacuated and when power was restored, the stove fired up and started a fire.

If you are without power, turn off all your breakers but one and plug a lamp into that outlet. The lamp will tell you when power is restored.

[Robert]

My understanding of NC law is that when winds reach gale force, EMS and Fire units do not have to respond to calls. Many will respond in winds above gale force, but there is a point where it is very dangerous for even a firetruck to be on the roads. It is my understanding that often police are also called into shelters to ride out the worse part of the storm. Another good reason to evacuate when told to do so, you may not have anyone who can respond when you call 911.

[cswitwer]

During Gaston, the winds here were only about 40-45 mph, but up on the bridges high profile vehicles (like ambulances) were in danger of being over turned. Plus with the wet ground, trees were coming down a lot. So they told us no EMS/fire/ambulance until the winds died down.

I was very surprised until I found out they had much stronger winds nearby. Never been in a place where EMS said they couldn't come to your aid if you needed them.

[soonertwister]

Another alternative, which can be used again and again without even the need for batteries, is the Freeplay Flashlight, which uses a hand-cranked internal generator to power the light for 8 minutes at a time off of 30 seconds of cranking. The flashlight uses rechargeable batteries and also comes with an AC adaptor. It's available at Coleman retailers nationwide for about $35.

Also available is a hand-cranked radio (Freeplay Radio) which also features 30 minutes of play for 30 seconds of hand cranking, although Consumer Reports tested a unit and found that it actually gave over an hour of play off of a 30 second cranking, and had good reception. It's also widely available for about $40.

Both products are also available at Coleman.com.

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanc ... ryid=28000

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemanc ... ryid=28000

[jude]

New Survivalist seems to be going out of business ( no snide comments! and their inventory is here -at a substantial savings:

http://www.museumtour.com/site_newsurvivalist.php

[jude]

well, answering my own self;
there's not much left.
Shame- they did have some very cool, radios, lights, etc at one time.

[clearwater]

I'm sorry, but the problem is not with candles or oil lamps, but the misuse thereof.

People start fires with electric stoves, ovens, toasters, irons, curling irons, cigarettes, coffee pots, gas grills, lighter fluid (a neighbor of mine blew up his kitchen using lighter fluid on the Thanksgiving Turkey -- I kid you not) and more. You don't ban use because some people are careless.

Of course, exhibiting caution with an open flame is always a wise choice.

[x-y-no]

I'm sorry, but the problem is not with candles or oil lamps, but the misuse thereof.

People start fires with electric stoves, ovens, toasters, irons, curling irons, cigarettes, coffee pots, gas grills, lighter fluid (a neighbor of mine blew up his kitchen using lighter fluid on the Thanksgiving Turkey -- I kid you not) and more. You don't ban use because some people are careless.

Of course, exhibiting caution with an open flame is always a wise choice.

Right. Good sense and caution are all that's needed.