Flamesless candles a better option for holiday decorating

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- If you're decking the halls with boughs of holly-- and candles-- fire safety advocates encourage you to take extra precautions to avoid a fire over the holidays.

"We don't put candles on trees like we used to, but you still need to be careful about where you place those. You want to make sure you have no combustibles around or above the," said Captain Brian Ellis with the Kennewick Fire Marshal's Office.

Ellis says you also want to make sure there are no combustibles above lit candles.

"Sometimes you see the candles under cabinets, and that really should be a no-go," Ellis said. "Make sure you have a lot of clear space around the candle so that heat dissipates."

He also recommends using flameless candles instead of traditional candles that need to be lit.

If you do choose to use traditional candles, never leave the candle burning unattended.

"If I leave the room and I have a candle going, I need to blow it out. I don't wants kids or animals playing around it-- because they are fixated but it as well, and that could lead to a not successful outcome," said Ellis.

Other tips for staying fire-safe over the holidays:

• Keep lit candles away from decorations and things that can burn.
• Consider using flameless candles, the look very similar and safer.
• More than one out of three home decoration fires are started by candles.
• Blow out lit candles and turn off all strings of lights when leaving the room or going to bed.