State Fire Marshal: Dec. 11 is Candle Safety Day

05:04PM / Monday, December 11, 2023Print Story | Email Story

STOW, Mass. — As Massachusetts enters the time of year when candle fires are most common, Governor Maura T. Healey has proclaimed Dec. 11, 2023, to be Candle Safety Day and State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to follow safety guidelines.

"There have been more than 1,000 candle fires in Massachusetts over the past 10 years," State Fire Marshal Davine said. "These fires caused 11 deaths, 191 injuries, and over $35 million in losses. More of these fires started in December than in any other month, and especially on the days leading up to Christmas. If candles are part of your celebration or decoration, please use them carefully."

Candles are part of many holiday traditions this time of year, including Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. As a result, candle fires tend to peak on Dec. 25, and December and January accounted for nearly 25 percent of all such incidents in the period from 2018 to 2022. State Fire Marshal Davine offered the following safety tips to reduce the risk of fire:

No matter the season, have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Check the manufacturing date printed on the back, replace alarms that are more than 10 years old, and test alarms every month to be sure you're protected.
Place lit candles on sturdy, non-combustible saucers or candleholders. Keep anything that can burn at least one foot away on all sides.
Always extinguish candles when you leave the room or go to sleep. Never leave a lit candle unattended.
Keep candles out of reach of children and pets. Store matches and lighters up high where kids can't access them.
Consider switching to battery-operated flameless candles.
Flashlights are much safer than candles during a power outage. Keep batteries on hand for emergency use.

There were 115 candle fires in Massachusetts last year, and 92 took place in residential settings. The most common location was the bedroom, followed by the living room, bathroom, and kitchen. One of these fires claimed the life of a 93-year-old Kingston woman with limited mobility, and another claimed the life of a 61-year-old Springfield resident whose home had no working smoke alarms.

Candle fires peaked in Massachusetts in 1999, with local fire departments reporting more than 340 of them. Candle Safety Day was established the following year, designating the second Monday of December to promote awareness of the problem.

"Since that time, we've reduced candle fires by more than 65 percent," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "Let's continue to practice safe candle use, especially around the holidays."

For more candle safety resources, including Spanish-language information, visit the DFS website.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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