Paul Perhaps there's a need for guidance for pilgrims and others about the safe use of votive candles. From what you describe, it seems that the pilgrims left the lit candles crammed together and that this led to development of the fire which had to be extinguished. In addition to appearing negligent in this respect, the pilgrims seem to have had sufficient funds to buy and use a whole bagful of candles in one go. While using the internet to check the word 'votive' before writing this response I chanced upon a very long page on a "Catholic Life blogspot' website about why candles are used in churches. While most of the responses to it seemed to comprise a debate about paying or giving donations for candles, one anonymous responder wrote "Please blow out the candles when you leave so you don't have a fire started by an unattended candle. 160 people per year are killed in such fires. 1500 are injured. Where in the bible does it say to put people at risk when you can't see the light when you are away anyway..." Though the next responder asked for information about how many fires were caused by prayer candles, it seems from a quick skim through the rest of the responses that nobody answered this question. Can you add whether the candles were left lit on some sort of feature intended for such purpose? Over the years during occasional visits as a tourist to churches and cathedrals, Anglican as well as Catholic, I've seen metal trays on stands specifically provided for candles lit by visitors who wish to do so. Also, as such stands seem to be located on stone floors well away from anything combustible, I guess that the likelihood of the candles on them causing a fire is remote. This prompts a question about the fire you mention: Though it may have alarmed the parishioner who saw and and extinguished it, did it pose a significant risk of spreading and endangering the building and its contents? Even if the fire you describe didn't pose a significant risk, the fact that the church was open for anyone to enter while unattended suggests that it is vulnerable to arson. This fact coupled with the increasing incidence of theft, including items made of brass and even more valuable metals, plus changes in insurance company requirements following thefts, seems to explain why more churches nowadays are kept locked when unattended. p.s. The number of responses to the above-mentioned webpage and the lengths of some of them made the webpage an especially long one. By comparison with it my longer responses on this forum could be regarded as examplars of brevity!!!! :-)

Hi All. Note this shrine is below the church. Latest thought to place a notice i.e.' Good Intentions can back FIRE', please do not light / bring your own candles. As an illustration place a photo of the recent fire !! Note the guy that put it out, a parisioner luckily showing people around risked life & limb by using an adjacent fire blanket with poor technique (seen on CCTV) He did not choose the foam extinguisher !! Any other ideas to stop this good intention of FIRE by pilgrims? Regards,Paul