‘Dude, you saved their house’: Decorator becomes a firefighter after homeowners leave kitchen ablaze

Do you like lighting candles in your home? Well, so did I until I saw this TikTok.

In this clip uploaded by home remodeling expert Paul Roth (@a_craftsmans_touch), he discovered something was ablaze in the house he was working on while the homeowners were out. In a manner far more chill than mine would be (personally, I would be letting a lot more expletives fly), Roth calmly discovers a blazing candle in the kitchen. Keeping a cool head, he regards the candle as though pondering how it could have the audacity to threaten to burn the house down. I have to agree, it’s pretty rude.

“When the homeowner left but I smell something while I’m painting in the other room,” he captioned his video, soundtracking the clip with a literal interpretation of Nelly’s seminal hit “Hot in Herre.” He then gives us a lesson in how to put out an out-of-control candle; first, you blow on it like you’re making the biggest birthday wish in history (I mean, if your wish is to not burn your house down — also, don’t actually do this). When that doesn’t work, you smother the flame with a handy metal drywall knife (hey, he’s a painter). Then, when the flame flickers out, you think, “that wasn’t so bad,” but wait! The flame isn’t going to go down that easy. You must cover the flame once more with your drywall knife (or similar covering apparatus) and then you can finally rest easy, knowing you just saved your home from a fiery demise.

“Dude you saved their house,” one user commented in awe. Others gave candle safety advice: “Candle maker here. That’s called the flash point. All wax can do it if the wax pool get[s] to that temperature. never burn your candles more than 4 hours.” According to Roth, the candle did have a warning on the bottom, but sadly it had gone ignored.

While many users were upset Roth didn’t cover the candle with its own lid, others pointed out that that may have been for the best. “To everyone saying use the lid, the glass is blackened and compromised. The pressure of the silicone seal inside the lid could cause it to shatter,” one user wrote. Some other users recommended you don’t blow out a similarly flaming candle, but rather find a way to safely smother the flame. If you’re feeling unsure how to safely light your candles, remember to read the candle safety guide that comes with your purchase or find one online.

Take this video as a warning to never leave a burning candle unattended. Nothing makes your home more cozy, fresh, and inviting than a good scented candle, but remember to trim those wicks, people!