Fire safety and rituals: candles, incense, herbs, charcoal, simple rules

The principle: a fire remains a fire

Whether it is a table candle, a bundle of sage, a charcoal disc for incense or a bay leaf on which a wish has been written, these are always flames or embers. UK fire services warn that burning herbs, wood, charcoal or other solid fuels at home or in a ritual setting can start a fire and expose people to carbon monoxide. In the United States, the NFPA counts candles among the leading causes of home fires, accounting for nearly 10% of civilian fire injuries, according to an encyclopedic summary of its data. A ritual, whatever its meaning, does not make the fire or the wax any less dangerous.

Before lighting

1. Choose the spot: a flat, stable, non-flammable surface, away from curtains, paper, books, dry plants, upholstery, cleaning products, and an open window that creates a draught.
2. Choose the holder: a thick candlestick or pot for candles, a bowl with sand for herbs (see Incense burners and bowls), a stone or metal tray under everything.
3. Prepare to put it out: a glass of water for small paper flare-ups, a metal lid or snuffer for candles, sand for embers, a fire-retardant blanket if you have one.
4. Let people know: if you live with others, tell them a fire is lit.
5. Check the alarms: a smoke detector must work; the law requires one in every home in France, with a deadline of 8 March 2015. A carbon monoxide detector is a useful addition when you burn embers.

During

• Never leave it unattended: a candle, a charcoal disc or a smouldering bundle must stay within sight. Put them out before leaving the room, going to sleep or going out.
• Keep away from fabric or long hair: loose clothing, scarves and sleeves need watching when you lean over a flame.
• Do not move it: do not move a lit candle or a hot burner.
• No flammable products nearby: essential oil (flammable), alcohol, aerosol perfume, hairspray. Never pour essential oil onto a flame.
• Rituals with small pieces of paper: burn small pieces of paper in a deep, non-flammable container, using tongs, and leave it on a stone support. Avoid large quantities.
• Ventilated room: to limit smoke and carbon monoxide. No incense in a bedroom where someone sleeps.
• Glass and jars: a cracked or chipped glass can shatter. Stop using a jar candle when about one centimetre of wax remains.

Children, animals, vulnerable people

If a fire starts

1. Burning wax or oil: do not pour water on it (it spreads the burning wax). Smother it with a metal lid or a fire-retardant blanket, and cut off the air supply.
2. Small fire from paper or a plant: cover it with a lid or pour sand over it.
3. Fire spreading: leave immediately with everyone and all animals, close the doors behind you, and call 18 or 112 (the emergency number across the European Union). Do not go back for belongings.
4. Burn: cool it under lukewarm water for several minutes, and call 15 in France for medical advice on a serious burn or a burn on a child.
5. Feeling unwell (headache, dizziness, nausea) while something is burning: get into fresh air, open windows wide, and call 15 or 112: it could be carbon monoxide.

Festival rituals and outdoor fires

For festivals such as the solstices, rituals often take place outdoors. In that case: check local and prefectoral regulations, since the use of fire is restricted near woodland and during dry spells; do not light a fire in strong wind; keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby; and put the fire out completely: douse it, stir the ashes, douse it again, and leave only once no embers remain at all. In a flat, a smoke detector may go off: warn your neighbours, and do not remove its battery.

For candles and their wicks, see Candle wicks. For charcoal, Charcoal for incense. For simple gestures for a celebration, see the simple Litha ritual and simple moon rituals.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Herbs, waxes and accessories.