Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles

Re:Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles by yoloswagins on Tuesday September 20, 2016 @01:45PM (#12541469)

While a smart phone candle doesn't solve the major issues facing humanity, it does help with prevent home fires.

In the US, there are about 1.240 million house fires a year[1], of which, 2,325 are caused by candles[2].

The candle will go out if it's knocked over, or if it's smothered[3].

While this is very expensive for a candle, it has the very real potential to prevent house fires. With time, the cost will fall, and we'll see less and less candle induced home fires.

[1] https://www.usfa.fema.gov/data/statistics/ [2] http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/top-causes-of-... [3] http://www.cnet.com/products/ludela-smart-candle/preview/

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles by kindleFire123 on Tuesday September 20, 2016 @02:02PM (#12541695)

That "1.240 million" is all fires, including vehicles & outside fires. I freaked out a bit thinking 1% of all US homes catch fire every year.

It seems 31.7% of those were "residential" fires (393000).

From https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v17i2.pdf:

From 2012 to 2014, fire departments responded to an estimated 243,800 fires in one- and two-family residences each year across the nation. These fires resulted in an annual average of 2,110 deaths, 7,950 injuries, and 5.4 billion dollars in property loss.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles by oneloop on Tuesday September 20, 2016 @01:49PM (#12541516)

So... 0.2% of the fires? That's not a great argument.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles by icebraining on Tuesday September 20, 2016 @02:21PM (#12541904)

"More than half (58%) of home candle fires occurred when some form of combustible material was left or came too close to the candle."

I don't see how Ludela can solve this, so that leaves <1000.

In fact, this kind of large candles probably don't set much on fire, it's the little ones that people put on Christmas trees and such that are really dangerous.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles by thomasruns on Tuesday September 20, 2016 @08:07PM (#12544431)

Wait, who is dumb enough to put a real candle on a Christmas tree?!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles by icebraining on Wednesday September 21, 2016 @02:10AM (#12545806)

Oh, it's traditional in many European countries, and so it has been imported into the US. I still have a kind of clip-on holder inherited from my grandparents, like this: http://cdn.notonthehighstreet.com/system/product_images/imag...

I only use LEDs, of course.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, we don’t need smartphone-controlled candles by emodendroket on Wednesday September 21, 2016 @09:03AM (#12547755)

It seems to me that remote ignition is likely to cause fires.

[ Parent | on HN ]