Gel Candles Exploding

[cjt284]

I recieved the following message from a friend recently. Is there any truth behind this? Is there more to it? Or is this just a grudge against gel candles? Thanks for the input.

> > Hi ,
> > My former secretary had a terrible thing happen to her and
> > her family last week, and I wanted to share it with all of you so
> > that you could be warned and warn your friends and family as
> > well. She had a gel candle burning in her bathroom...it exploded and
> > caught her
> > house on fire...the house burned down and they have lost everything.
> >
> > The fire marshal told her that this is not the first incident
> > where a gel candle has exploded and caused a fire. He said that the gel
> > builds up a gas, and often times it explodes and sets fire to the room
it
> > is
> > in, which is what happened to her.
> >
> > The fire was so hot it melted the smoke alarm, and they
> > didn't discover the fire until there was an explosion, which was
> > her toilet blowing up, and then it was too late...the entire upstairs
> > was engulfed in flames. Smoke damage and water damage have
> > destroyed what wasn't destroyed by fire.
> >
> > I know that there are roomies and friends that I don't have
> > on this list because I can't remember how to spell their screen
> > names...please pass this along to anyone I missed. I wouldn't want
> > this to happen to anyone else. Her family is devastated. All their
> > mementos and everything of value and meaning are gone.
> >
> > I'm not trying to bring anyone down...just a friendly
> > warning to all of you about the use of gel candles left
> > unattended.
> >
> > Thanks and take care!
> >
> > NOTE: Marty and I know a lady who loves the gel candles.
> > She had one burning on her mantle and it caught fire just like in
> > the message above. She was at home at the time and saw it happen and
> > grabbed the candle to keep it from setting her home on fire and it came
> > apart in her hand. She saved her home but suffered 3rd degree
> > burns to her hand and 3 fingers!

[ 08-05-2001: Message edited by: afd284 ]

[Neptune 33]

It does have some merit behind it...here is a link explaining it. http://www.snopes2.com/toxins/gel.htm

[cjt284]

Thanks,

That answers it perfectly.

[FFsSignfOthr]

About four years ago I had a lit gel candle on the end table next to the couch where I fell asleep while watching TV. For some reason I woke up and realized the room seemed much brighter than it should have been. I looked up in time to see the surface of my gel candle completely in flames just beginning to scorch the lampshade above it! I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a pan cover and smothered the flames. The whole top half of the candle was melted to liquid which made it burn easily. The container was a shallow open cup, not the typical jar type that you would expect to build up heat. I threw it out and now I warn everyone not to buy them. I would like to see them pulled off the market completely.

[Diane E]

I've heard bad things about the Glade candles, as well. My mom's friend had a bad fire right before Christmas last year. Had she followed the directions (suggested burning limit), she probably wouldn't have had the fire.

[RJE]

I also had a friend have one start a fire. In her case, it overheated, and the glass broke spewing flammable liquid all over the carpeting. $20,000 damage to a mobile home resulted.