What is the safest emergency lighting when the power is out?

Short answer. The safest light in a power outage is a flashlight or another battery-powered light. The U.S. Fire Administration says to "use flashlights, not candles" ², and the CDC, Canada and the UK government give the same advice ³⁶⁷. Candles started an average of 5,894 U.S. home fires a year from 2020 to 2024, killing 63 people a year ¹. Keep one flashlight per person, with spare batteries ⁴⁵.

Why do fire agencies say flashlights instead of candles?

A candle is an open flame. NFPA puts it plainly: it "can easily ignite anything that can burn" ¹. The CDC adds that home fires are a threat after a natural disaster, and fire trucks may have trouble getting to your home ³.

NFPA's figures for the United States, 2020 to 2024 ¹:

Three patterns explain most of these fires ¹:

• Things too close to the flame. Over half of candle fires started when furniture, mattresses, bedding, curtains, decorations, paper or clothing was too close to the lit candle.
• Bedrooms and sleep. 36% of candle fires started in the bedroom. Sleep was a factor in 11% of candle fires but in 34% of candle fire deaths.
• Unattended or misused candles. In 21% of candle fires, the candle was left unattended, discarded or otherwise misused.

NFPA also notes that candle fires injure people at a rate of 90 injuries per 1,000 reported fires. That is nearly three times the rate for all home structure fires ¹.

What kind of light should you keep for outages?

Official kit lists are short. Ready.gov puts "flashlight" and "extra batteries" in its basic disaster supplies kit ⁵. For outages it says to have flashlights for every household member and to plan for batteries and other power sources, such as a power bank ⁴. Canada says to keep flashlights with batteries in accessible locations ⁶. The UK government recommends a battery or wind-up torch with spare batteries and says torches are safer than candles ⁷.

Useful points from these sources:

• One light per person. Ready.gov says to have flashlights for every household member ⁴.
• A light you can find in the dark. Canada asks for "accessible locations" ⁶. The UK suggests keeping written notes somewhere easy to find in the dark ⁷.
• Don't rely on your phone. The UK government warns that a phone torch drains its battery more quickly, when you may need the phone to get news or call for help ⁷.
• Wind-up or crank options. The UK lists a wind-up torch as an alternative to a battery one ⁷, and Germany's BBK suggests a battery or crank radio ¹¹.

What about headlamps and lanterns? The agencies above do not name headlamps or lanterns. The CDC's wording covers them: "flashlights or other battery-powered lights" ³. A headlamp is a battery-powered light that leaves both hands free. A battery lantern lights a whole room. Choose based on what you will be doing. No agency ranks one type above another.

How should you store and check batteries?

A dead flashlight gives no light. A badly stored battery can also start a fire.

• Keep spares with the light. Ready.gov, Canada and the UK all pair the flashlight with extra or spare batteries ⁵⁶⁷.
• Replace expired items. Ready.gov's general rule for kits is to replace expired items as needed ⁵.
• Lithium-ion batteries need care. The USFA advises storing them at room temperature when possible, not charging them below 32 °F (0 °C) or above 105 °F (40 °C), and keeping them out of direct sunlight and hot cars ⁹.
• Keep them away from fuel. Store spare lithium-ion batteries away from anything that can burn ⁹.
• Stop using damaged batteries. Stop using a lithium-ion battery that gives off an odour, changes colour, gets too hot, changes shape, leaks or makes odd noises. Recycle it; do not put it in the trash ⁹.
• Check the alarms too. Canada says to check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure they work ⁶. The CDC recommends checking CO detector batteries each spring and fall when clocks change ¹⁰.

What if you have to use a candle?

Not every household will have enough flashlights. The agencies that discourage candles also say how to reduce the risk if you light one:

• Put candles in stable holders where they cannot be knocked over easily ², on a stable surface in heat-resistant holders ⁸.
• Keep candles at least 12 inches (about 30 cm) from anything that burns ².
• Never leave a burning candle unattended ³. Blow candles out when you leave a room or go to bed ²⁸.
• Do not use lit candles in bedrooms, bathrooms or sleeping areas ².
• Tea lights get very hot. Without proper holders they can melt through plastic surfaces such as a TV or bath ⁸.

Battery-operated flameless candles are another option. The USFA notes they can look, smell and feel like real candles ². London Fire Brigade says flameless LED candles are "a much safer alternative" to candles and tea lights ⁸.

Can you use a fuel lamp or camping stove indoors?

None of the agencies cited here recommends it. Burning fuel produces carbon monoxide, and the CDC lists lanterns among the sources ¹⁰. More than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, and more than 100,000 visit an emergency department ¹⁰.

The official rules for outdoor fuel-burning equipment are clear:

• Never use a portable gas camp stove indoors. Never use a generator inside your home or garage, even with doors and windows open. Never burn charcoal indoors ¹⁰.
• Canada says outdoor cooking equipment such as barbecues and camping stoves should only be used outdoors, never in a garage, shed, crawlspace or basement, even with windows open ⁶.
• Germany's BBK warns not to grill inside a flat or house because of the risk of suffocation ¹¹.
• Install battery-operated or battery back-up CO detectors near every sleeping area ¹⁰.

We found no fire or health agency in these sources that recommends kerosene, paraffin or gas lamps as indoor outage lighting. Battery-powered light avoids both the flame and the fumes.

What official agencies recommend

Where agencies differ. U.S., Canadian and UK agencies steer people to flashlights or torches rather than candles ²⁶⁷. Germany's BBK page treats candles as a possible alternative light source and focuses on airing the room ¹¹. The sources that address it agree on the rest: never leave a flame unattended ³⁸ and never use outdoor fuel-burning equipment indoors ⁶¹⁰¹¹.

A note on the numbers. The USFA page says an average of 20 home candle fires are reported each day, citing NFPA ². NFPA's newer 2020-2024 average of 5,894 a year works out to about 16 a day ¹. We use NFPA's figure because it is the newer one.

Frequently asked questions

Is a flashlight really safer than a candle?

Yes, according to the U.S., Canadian and UK agencies cited here. The USFA says to use flashlights, not candles, in a power outage ². Canada says flashlights lower the risk of fire ⁶. Candles caused an average of 63 U.S. home fire deaths a year from 2020 to 2024 ¹.

How many flashlights does a household need?

Ready.gov recommends a flashlight for every household member ⁴, with extra batteries in the kit ⁵. That way, nobody needs a flame to move around the home.

Are LED or flameless candles a safer option?

London Fire Brigade describes flameless LED candles as a much safer alternative to real candles and tea lights ⁸. The USFA also suggests them in place of lit candles ². The USFA's battery page asks you to follow product instructions when using, storing or disposing of batteries ⁹.

Can I use my phone as a flashlight?

You can for a short time, but the UK government warns that it drains the phone's battery more quickly ⁷. Keep a separate torch so the phone stays charged for alerts and calls.

Is it safe to use a camping lantern or stove indoors?

Fuel-burning equipment produces carbon monoxide, and the CDC lists lanterns among the sources ¹⁰. The CDC says never to use a portable gas camp stove indoors ¹⁰. Canada says outdoor cooking equipment should only be used outdoors ⁶. Use battery-powered lights indoors.

Next step: build your lighting into a kit

A flashlight for each person, spare batteries and a working CO alarm cover the lighting points these agencies raise. The Phaenyx plan counts these items for your household from your government's own list. Build your Phaenyx plan.

Sources

1. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) — Safety with candles — https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/candles (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. U.S. Fire Administration (USFA, FEMA) — Candle Fire Safety — https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/candle (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Proper Use of Candles During a Power Outage — https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/psa-toolkit/proper-use-of-candles-during-a-power-outage.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Ready.gov (DHS / FEMA) — Power Outages — https://www.ready.gov/power-outages (accessed 2026-10-20)
5. Ready.gov (DHS / FEMA) — Build A Kit — https://www.ready.gov/kit (accessed 2026-10-20)
6. Government of Canada — Power outages - Get prepared — https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/hazards-emergencies/power-outages/how-prepare.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. UK Government (Prepare) — Power cuts - Prepare — https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/be-informed-about-hazards/power-cuts (accessed 2026-10-20)
8. London Fire Brigade — Candles - Fire safety at home — https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/candles/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
9. U.S. Fire Administration (USFA, FEMA) — Battery Fire Safety — https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/batteries/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics — https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/about/index.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
11. Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Vorsorge und Handeln bei Stromausfall — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Vorsorge/Stromausfall/stromausfall_node.html (accessed 2026-10-20)