Candles were the recorded ignition source in 962 primary fires in England in 2025/26. These incidents caused 10 deaths and 257 non-fatal casualties. This page gathers the official UK candle fire statistics in one referenced place: the candle-ignition figures from MHCLG’s fire statistics data tables (table FIRE0602), the national fire and rescue incident statistics for England, insurer claims analysis from Aviva, and seasonal incident data from London Fire Brigade. The data period is stated next to every figure, so you can cite any number on this page with confidence.
Key facts and figures
- 962 primary fires in England were started by candles in 2025/26 (year ending March 2026).
- 10 people died in candle-ignited fires in England in 2025/26.
- 257 non-fatal casualties were recorded in candle fires in England in 2025/26; this includes precautionary checks and first aid, as well as hospital treatment.
- 27.8 deaths and non-fatal casualties per 100 candle fires in 2025/26 — a ratio of people to incidents, not the percentage of fires causing harm.
- 15% of Aviva’s December home fire claims involved candles in its 2021–2024 claims analysis.
- £25,000+ average candle-related home fire claim in Aviva’s 2021–2024 analysis.
- ~200 candle-related fires were attended by London Fire Brigade in December and January across the three years cited in its December 2022 warning.
- 254 fire-related deaths in England in 2025/26 across all ignition sources.
Figures checked on 15 October 2026. The latest MHCLG ignition-source tables cover 2025/26 and were published on 19 August 2026. Insurance claims and local brigade reports have their own stated periods.
How many candle fires are there in the UK each year?
962 primary fires in England were started by candles in 2025/26, according to MHCLG table FIRE0602. The revised 2024/25 count is 984, so the latest total is 22 lower, a decrease of about 2.2%.
Primary fires include fires in non-derelict buildings, vehicles or outdoor structures, incidents involving casualties or rescues, or those attended by five or more pumping appliances. Candle incidents are predominantly domestic: 844 of the 962 were classified as accidental dwelling fires. The primary-fire total should not be described as a count of house fires alone.
The annual total is equivalent to about 2.6 candle-ignited primary fires a day in England.
How many people do candle fires kill and injure?
10 people died and 257 non-fatal casualties were recorded in candle-ignited primary fires in England in 2025/26. The corresponding revised 2024/25 counts are 9 and 298. Small annual fatality counts can fluctuate, so a single year should not be treated as a stable risk estimate.
England recorded 254 fire-related deaths from all ignition sources in 2025/26, compared with a revised 280 in 2024/25. Candle fires accounted for about 3.9% of the latest total. Our sister site’s guide to fire deaths in the UK explains the wider figures.
How dangerous are candle fires compared with other fires?
The 10 deaths and 257 non-fatal casualties amount to 27.8 casualties per 100 candle fires in 2025/26. This calculation divides 267 people by 962 incidents. It does not show that 27.8% of fires injured somebody: one fire can affect several people.
The ignition-source table therefore cannot establish the chance of being injured in a candle fire. It also does not measure exposure, such as how many candles were used or how long they burned. Comparisons with other ignition sources need to take those limits into account.
The practical conclusion remains that an unattended flame close to combustible material presents a fire risk. Fire services advise extinguishing candles before leaving the room or going to sleep.
Candle fire statistics at a glance
The table below summarises the key UK candle fire figures, with the data period and direction of travel for each measure.
| Measure | Figure | Period and trend |
|---|---|---|
| Candle-ignited primary fires (England) | 962 | 2025/26 — 984 in revised 2024/25 |
| Deaths in candle fires (England) | 10 | 2025/26 — 9 in 2024/25 |
| Non-fatal casualties (England) | 257 | 2025/26 — 298 in 2024/25 |
| Deaths and non-fatal casualties per 100 fires | 27.8 | 2025/26 — people divided by incidents, not a percentage of fires |
| Candles’ share of Aviva December home fire claims | 15% | Aviva claims, 2021–2024 |
| Average candle fire insurance claim | Over £25,000 | Aviva claims, 2021–2024; published December 2025 |
| All fire-related deaths (England) | 254 | 2025/26 — revised 280 in 2024/25 |
Do candle fires spike in December?
Aviva reported that candles accounted for 15% of its December home fire claims in 2021–2024, compared with 6% for chimneys and fireplaces. Its average candle-related claim exceeded £25,000. These are one insurer’s claims figures, not national incident rates; the release was published on 1 December 2025.
London Fire Brigade’s December 2022 warning reported almost 200 candle-related incidents in December and January over the preceding three years. In a separate December 2025 warning, it described four suspected candle fires in four days, including a Peckham maisonette fire attended by six engines and about 40 firefighters.
Those local reports support seasonal safety warnings. They do not establish a precise UK-wide December increase. Decorations should be kept well away from flames, and candles should be extinguished when unattended.
Is the home-fragrance boom changing the risk?
The fire tables do not measure candle ownership or sales. They cannot establish what share of UK households buys scented candles, how fast the market is growing, or how often candles are burned. Market forecasts are not a substitute for those exposure measures.
The 2025/26 count is lower than the revised preceding year, but the table does not explain why. It would be speculative to attribute that change to smoke alarms, safety campaigns or changing candle use without further evidence.
Do these figures cover the whole of the UK?
The headline figures on this page cover England, which publishes fire-cause data through MHCLG’s FIRE0602 tables (fires, fatalities and non-fatal casualties by source of ignition). There is no single published UK-wide candle fire table. Scotland’s figures are published separately by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, which maintains its own incident statistics alongside dedicated candle safety guidance; Wales and Northern Ireland likewise publish their own fire statistics.
England figures should be labelled as England figures. For Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, use the relevant devolved publication; do not scale the English figures to estimate a UK total.
What do fire services advise?
Fire and rescue services advise taking precautions whenever candles are used. Never leave a lit candle unattended, and put candles out completely before leaving the room or going to sleep. Keep them well away from curtains, bedding, furniture and decorations, on a stable, heat-resistant holder — and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Fire services also single out tealights, which can melt through plastic surfaces such as baths and televisions if placed directly on them, and increasingly suggest LED flameless candles as a like-for-like swap in bedrooms and bathrooms.
The other half of the equation is early warning: a working smoke alarm can provide time to escape, although it cannot guarantee a safe outcome. Our companion page on smoke alarm statistics sets out the ownership and failure data. And if a small fire does take hold, knowing what is — and is not — safe to tackle matters: see our guides to the UK fire classes and how to use a fire extinguisher.
For workplaces — hospitality venues, care settings, salons and spas where candles and oil burners are part of the environment — candle risk belongs in the fire risk assessment, and staff fire awareness training is part of the control measures the Responsible Person must provide.
Frequently asked questions
How many candle fires are there per year in the UK?
England recorded 962 candle-ignited primary fires in 2025/26, including 844 accidental dwelling fires. The revised 2024/25 primary-fire count is 984. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish separate statistics.
How many people die in candle fires in the UK each year?
There were 10 deaths and 257 non-fatal casualties in candle-ignited primary fires in England in 2025/26. Non-fatal casualties include precautionary checks and first aid as well as hospital treatment.
Why do candle fires spike in December?
Candles are used near festive decorations and during darker evenings. Aviva’s 2021–2024 claims analysis and London Fire Brigade’s seasonal reports highlight December risks, but do not give a national percentage increase.
How much damage does a candle fire cause?
Aviva reported an average candle-related home fire claim above £25,000 in its 2021–2024 claims data. This is an insurer-specific average, not the cost of every candle fire.
Are tealights included in the candle fire statistics?
The candle ignition-source category covers candle incidents, including tealights. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service warns that tealight containers can become hot enough to melt plastic, so they need a suitable holder and heat-resistant surface.
Where do UK candle fire statistics come from?
MHCLG table FIRE0602 provides England counts by ignition source. The latest edition was published on 19 August 2026 and covers 2025/26. Local fire services and clearly labelled insurer reports provide additional context.
Related guides
- Smoke Alarm Statistics UK: Ownership, Failures & Lives Saved
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Statistics UK: Deaths, Incidents & Alarms
- UK Fire Classes Explained: A, B, C, D, F (and L)
- How to Use a Fire Extinguisher: The PASS Method Explained
- Water Fire Extinguishers: The UK Guide
- Who Is Responsible for Fire Extinguishers in the UK?
Sources & references
- MHCLG — FIRE0602, ignition sources, 2025/26 (August 2026)
- MHCLG — Fire and rescue incident statistics, England, year ending March 2026
- Aviva — December candle claims, 2021–2024 (published 1 December 2025)
- London Fire Brigade — Festive candle incidents, December 2025
- London Fire Brigade — Seasonal candle warning, December 2022
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service — Candle and tealight safety
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Mark writes about workplace health & safety, fire safety awareness and accredited online training for Fire Safety Awareness Training, part of Online CPD Academy.