Get glowing over this holiday season with these smart candle safety tips

Tthe holidays are a time to relax and have fun, but it's important to keep safety in mind as you plan your decorations and parties.

Candles are a great way to add ambiance and even fragrance to your holiday festivities, but they can be dangerous, too. According to Fire Prevention Canada, candle fires are more common during the Christmas period. During the second half of December, candle-related fires go up approximately 140 per cent!

Here are some tips to keep in mind to enjoy a safe holiday season: • Keep candles away from decorations. It takes just seconds for a candle to light something on fire, so be careful not to place them near window drapes, presents or hanging holiday ornaments. Be sure candles are set on a sturdy surface in proper holders that have a secure grip. Choose holiday decorations that are flameretardant, too, and never use candles on Christmas trees. • Consider flameless candles. Flameless candles are battery operated and mimic the flicker and glow of a real candle. They are excellent to use around children and pets and don't pose a fire risk like open flame candles. S. C. Johnson has even come out with the first-ever flameless candle/air freshener with the new Glade Wisp Flameless Candle, so you can have the benefits of a candle with long lasting fragrance, too. There are a variety of scents to choose from and it comes in an attractive frosted glass holder. For more information visit www.glade.ca • Ensure adult supervision. Teenagers especially love to have candles burning in their bedrooms, but it's easy to forget about them, and candles that are left unattended can quickly become a hazard. In fact, bedrooms are a common location for fires to start. Let your teen use flameless candles instead if they really want to have the look, feel and scent of a candle in their rooms.

- News Canada