Halloween is the 5th Busiest Day for the Fire Department... Don't Make Them Trick-or-Treat Your House!

Here's a scary statistic - Halloween is the fifth busiest day for fire departments across the US. According to the National Fire Protection Association, most of these calls are for home fires, and would you believe - burning candles account for many of these accidents!

Luckily this particular hazard is one hundred percent preventable - by not lighting up a candle. But that's a bit of a drag for Halloween decorations. Or is it?

There's a huge selection of flame-free candles and battery-operated lights on the market today, and these are perfect for adding spooky, ghoulish glows without the danger of an open flame.

Flameless candles are realistic, too. Most are made of wax and feature a built-in flicker bulb to mimic the real thing. Battery-operated tapers, pillars, votive candles and even tea lights are perfect replacements for burning candles in Jack o'Lanterns, lumeires, decorative candleholders, and on mantles and tabletops. They're also great for use outdoors since they don't blow out.

But flameless candles are just one of the safer Halloween lighting options to consider. You'll find a variety of battery-operated and electrical Halloween lights on store shelves right now that are worth a look. In fact, switching to flameless lighting actually opens up a world Halloween decorating options, as opposed to open-flame candles because it works just about anywhere, indoors and out. Best of all, you don't need to worry about the surrounding décor bursting into flame.

Some battery-operated choices you'll find include flashers for carved pumpkins, pathway lights and even light strands. These are ideal for safe decorating just about anywhere - especially around sidewalks and doors where kids may brush them in their quest for goodies. Electrical light strands and strobes are also Halloween decorating essentials, but remember that trailing cords can be a tripping hazard. These should be secured away from walkways and entrances to make them even safe for trick-or-treaters.

And don't forget about those inexpensive glow sticks, they're not just for lighting up your little ghouls and goblins. They're also perfect for lighting up decorations on a budget. Pop a few in Jack o'Lanterns and sidewalk lumeires for a colorful, flame-free glow that lasts the evening - and doesn't require batteries.