January 14, 2026 – A lucite (acrylic) Chanukah menorah, sold under the Waterdale Collection brand, reportedly caught fire during normal and intended use in a residential home in December 2025. The incident, which occurred on the eighth night of Chanukah, highlights significant fire risks associated with the product, despite standard safety precautions taken by the users.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On December 22, 2025, the eighth night of Chanukah, a Waterdale Collection Modern Menorah ignited while all candles were lit in a private home. The menorah, made of lucite (acrylic), was being used exactly as intended; standard Chanukah candles were placed into the metal candle inserts provided by the manufacturer. The menorah belonged to a 17-year-old and was lit under adult supervision.
Despite standard household fire precautions being taken—the menorah was placed on a flat surface covered with aluminum foil and positioned away from walls and surrounding materials—flames extended beyond the candle wicks. Subsequently, the lucite body of the menorah ignited, began burning, and melted rapidly. Family members who were within a few feet of the menorah noticed the fire quickly and were able to extinguish it before it caused more serious damage or injuries.
Photographs from the incident show active flames involving the lucite body of the menorah during use, as well as significant melting and deformation of the product immediately after the fire was put out.
Safety Concerns
This incident reveals critical safety concerns associated with the Waterdale Collection Modern Menorah and potentially similar lucite/acrylic menorahs or candle-related accessories marketed for open flame use.
- Immediate Dangers: The rapid ignition and burning of the lucite material created an immediate and serious risk of burns, fire spread, and property damage. Molten and burning plastic from the menorah could have caused severe burn injuries if it had contacted skin, or ignited nearby materials such as curtains, furniture, or other household items, leading to a much larger residential fire.
- Rapid Fire Spread: The nature of the material (lucite/acrylic) suggests a potential for quick ignition and spread of flames once involved, even when users take precautions. This characteristic could drastically reduce the time available for escape or fire suppression.
- Design Flaw: The incident indicates a potential design flaw where the product’s material is incompatible with its intended use with open flames. Even with provided metal inserts, the proximity and heat generated by standard Chanukah candles were sufficient to ignite the lucite body.
- Who Might Be Affected: Consumers who own this specific Waterdale Collection Modern Menorah or similar lucite/acrylic menorahs and candle accessories marketed by Homemodele LLC or other manufacturers for open flame use are at risk. Children and teenagers, who may be less experienced in fire safety, could be particularly vulnerable if not under direct adult supervision.
- Property Damage Potential: Had the fire not been noticed and extinguished promptly, the melting and burning plastic could have easily ignited combustible materials in the home, leading to extensive property damage or even structural fire.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a Waterdale Collection Modern Menorah or similar lucite/acrylic menorahs marketed for open flame use should take the following actions:
- Stop Using Immediately: Cease using the Waterdale Collection Modern Menorah, or any similar lucite/acrylic menorah, with open flames. Do not attempt to light candles in these products.
- Identify Your Product: Check if you own a Waterdale Collection Modern Menorah or any other lucite/acrylic candle-related product manufactured by Homemodele LLC or retailed by Crown Judaica that is intended for open flame use.
- Consider Alternatives: If you wish to continue using a menorah, consider options made from non-combustible materials such as glass, metal, or ceramic. For decorative purposes, LED or electric menorahs offer a safer alternative to open flames.
- General Fire Safety: Always maintain vigilance when using any product with open flames. Ensure candles are placed on stable, non-combustible surfaces, away from flammable materials, and never leave them unattended.
- Report Incidents: If you have experienced a similar incident or have concerns about this product, you are encouraged to report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov.
Manufacturer’s Response
Homemodele LLC has provided a response to this incident report. Details of their specific response are not available in the report at this time.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.