I just read the article “Candle causes Bothell apartment fire” in the Aug. 19 Bothell/Kenmore-Reporter news.

I was relieved to read that only one apartment was damaged due to the occupants’ negligence.

Most of us have burned candles in our lifetime, probably on several occasions like weddings, power outages or just a romantic dinner. With that comes a responsibility to be extremely careful to burn them in a safe area away from flammable materials.

Fortunately nowadays there are several brands of realistic looking candles, many with flickering flames that run on batteries. Most have built in timers that will shut off the candle after a certain length of time. Some even have optional remote controls.

The most popular brand is Luminara, and there are similar brands that are more affordable at many local retail outlets. These make great gifts and everyone that enjoys candlelight should have one or more for safety and peace of mind.

Jane Clayton, Bothell