Being well known is no excuse for carelessness with candles. According to Good Morning America in January 2014, candle sales –and house fires caused by unattended candles- are on the rise. Mary Kay Appy of the National Fire Protection Association told Good Morning America, “If you leave an open flame unattended, you’re asking for trouble. ” Every year more and more people lose property or their lives in house fires attributed to burning candles. Are people not getting the message? Evidently, the five celebrities we’re about to describe did not heed the many warnings about the danger of leaving a lit candle unattended:
Ashley Greene
Being a GC cover girl and appearing in the Twilight movies doesn’t make one immune from the dangers of unattended candles. Just ask Ashley Greene, whose pet dog died in a fire at her West Hollywood apartment in March 2013. Fire investigators determined the blaze to be caused by one or more unattended candles that ignited a sofa in the living room.
Courtney Love
The Hollywood actress, former lead singer of the band Hole and notorios wife of former Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain left a candle burning unattended in her $27,000 a month condominium in the West Village neighborhood of Los Angeles in June 2011. The candle ignited lightweight curtains, causing a small blaze that was out by the time the local fire department arrived, but the damage was enough to get Ms. Love evicted from the pricey home.
Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne
In the early morning hours of January 17, 2011, Sharon Osbourne woke to the sound of breaking glass. What she heard was a glass candle holder shattering, spilling its flaming contents and igniting a downstairs room. By the time she and Ozzy made it downstairs, the entire living room was engulfed in flame. To this day, the Osbournes forbid any lit candles in their home. No wonder, as Ozzy lost several inches of hair while attempting to extinguish the fire himself before the professionals arrived.
Jack Nicholson
Jack had the misfortune to rent one of his houses to tenants who were not careful with burning candles. The beloved star’s 1,300 square foot Hollywood Hills home was so damaged by flames in September 2011, he decided to bulldoze it to the ground and sell the property. According to Trulia, the vacant lot went for over $500,000.
Kat Von D
In 2011, the celebrity tattoo artist and former girlfriend of Motley Crue rocker Nikki Sixx left –you guessed it- candles burning unattended and the results were devastating. The house was a total loss and her beloved hairless cat, Valentine, perished in the blaze. Candles can be dangerous and even deadly, but people still like having them around.
Anybody – including celebrities – who enjoys the gentle flickering light provided by burning candles may wish to consider trying some of the wonderful flameless candles that are available today. Battery-operated real wax candles are a safe and sensible alternative that won’t turn your home into a tinderbox.
Kaanii Powell Cleaver writes creative non-fiction at her mountaintop desk in the enchanted redwood forest of Napa, California.
As someone who has survived the tragedy of fire…I am terrified of burning candles…or burning anything for that matter lol. It is so sad that 2 of these stars lost their precious pets. I really encourage everyone to go flameless.