Safety – A Reminder

Hey All,

In spellcraft, since we often use items which are smoldering or literally on fire, its important to remember some integral rules of fire safety. 😉 Its much better to practice fire safety than it is to have to learn it the hard way…so for your review:

Incense: This is a smoking ember, so it can create fire issues.

If you are using “self lighting” incense powder, it will contain salt petre which can, and does, occaisionally shoot sparks. I recommend burning this in a small bowl or ashtray with raised sides. If possible, a small brass or metal bowl with a tile placed beneath the bowl (to absorb heat) should be used.

If using stick or cone incense, be sure to place this in a container which cannot catch fire – for example, DO NOT burn a stick or cone where the ember will have contact with wood. Your friend, Cat, had a friend in high school who burnt down his house by allowing a piece of stick incense to have contact with a wooden mantle. 😛 Also, do not place paper underneath the stick to catch ash…sometimes this can ignite.

Candles: This is an open flame on wax, people…respect it!

Free Standing Candles – these include votives, figurals, and any candle which can stand without a candle holder or which is not encased in glass… First off, place these candles in a fireproof container (preferably of some metal, and I oft recommend a pie plate or cake tin,) and then on a ceramic tile or heatproof coaster to alleviate the heat damage to the surface on which this will be sitting. Remember, wood, cloth, even plastic tops to your altar can catch fire when the heat inside your plate becomes hot enough. They can and sometimes do cause combustion…I’ve melted an altar by not being vigilant enough with the tile underneath the plate. 😉 Nextly, check to make sure this is comfortably distant from any wood or drywall walls, curtains, or shades. Then, place a small container of sand (you can use the same traction sand you can get in a hardwood store,) nearby the altar in case of fire accidents.

Glass-Encased Candles – Its not so common, but these can explode. I recommend keeping the candle on a safe surface (preferably metal with a tile under the candle,) but also to have a bucket of sand nearby. If I am worried the candle might explode (some of these will be poured poorly, and the wick will be too close to the glass,) I put the candle in a 5 gallon bucket, and pour sand around it. 🙂 This way, if the candle explodes, the only thing hurt is my bucket. 😉

Candles in Candle Holders – DO NOT USE GLASS, WOOD, or FIMO candle holders! Believe it or not, I’ve heard so many “my glass candle holder exploded” stories, I’d never even buy them. 😉 I use brass candle holders. I did have sterling silver candleholders which would (seriously,) melt sometimes in the base, so I now do not use these for ritual. Wood, glass, fimo, and other decorative holders are just that – decorative. They are often not meant to allow a candle to burn out in them.

Be sure your candle is SNUG and secured to the candle holder to prevent accidents where the candle might fall out of the holder.

Be sure to place your candle in a fireproof container such as a pie plate or cake tin – if you dress your candles with herbs, they may drip or send flaming bits of herbal matter which could create a fire hazard.

Altar – Its holding a lot of flaming items, is it not?

Although I use altars of all different types (I need many,) I recommend a metal or ceramic/tile top altar to prevent fires from occuring when the spell item is so hot it is creating combustion below it. Also be wary of “Altar cloths” because these are often made from very flammable fabric. 😛 I wouldn’t instruct you to place tissue paper under an item well over 300 degrees farenheit, nor would I encourage you to use some linen in the same manner. In the past, clients have reported using stove tops, tubs and showers with the curtain removed or pulled safely away from the area….though these may not qualify as “altars” in your mind, I think they are very safety conscious locations and work just fine.

My favorite altar is a tile-topped plant table! 😉 Totally heat proof and takes lots of weight. I think its a TJ Maxx find – so for 14 dollars I have a wonderful altar.

Anyhow, this is, by no means, I complete instruction on safety, but since I hear too many “Wish I’d thought of the fire hazard” stories, I did feel it was time for a fire hazard review. Safety first, people!

~Cat