The Dangers of Sky Lanterns

Officials Concerned over Increased Popularity of Chinese Lights

Jul 6, 2009
Elaine Findlay

Sky Lanterns Spark Search and Rescue Missions - Elaine M Findlay

The growing use of Chinese Lanterns at celebrations in the UK is causing an increase in calls to the Emergency Services by worried members of the public

Sky lanterns have been ignited in China and other Asian countries for centuries. The credit for their invention is given to Zhuge Liang, also known as Kong Ming, who was a brilliant military strategist and statesman in the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. They were originally used as signalling devices in military campaigns.

Kong Ming Lantern Used for Wish Sending

The Kong Ming lantern eventually became popular with the Chinese as a device for sending their wishes up to heaven. This gave rise to the alternative name of wish lantern. On the 15th day after Chinese New Year, the annual Lantern Festival (or Yuan Xiao) takes place where people go out with them in the light of the full moon to mark the end of the New Year celebrations.

The lanterns are engineered from a wire or bamboo frame over which paper is stretched. A wick or fuel pod is attached inside and ignited. The flame causes the air inside the lantern to heat up and subsequently rise like a hot air balloon. They can reach up to 1,000 metres in height and fly for several minutes before the fuel runs out.

Chinese Lanterns Spark Costly Search and Rescue Missions

It’s only recently that flying fire lanterns has become an increasingly popular activity at weddings and other celebrations in the United Kingdom. However, their use is causing a headache for the country’s Emergency Services and has led to the Coastguard Service asking people to call them before releasing sky lanterns in coastal areas because they are being mistaken for marine distress flares.

In one instance, in 2009 in Orkney, an expensive four and a half-hour air and sea search involving lifeboats and the coastguard helicopter was instigated after Chinese lanterns were let off one evening in April. Another costly search and rescue scramble was narrowly avoided in the same month at Watchett, Somerset, when a coastguard officer saw lanterns being let off and alerted the control room to their presence.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service was so concerned about the risk of fire caused by Chinese lanterns after several were found on Hamworthy beach that they issued a press release in 2008. In it they asked people who find or buy them not to light them anywhere near the environmentally sensitive heath land in the county or in residential areas.

Flying of Lanterns Banned in Nanjing

The display and sale of sky lanterns was banned in the capital of China’s Jiangsu province, Nanjing, in 2008 after one lamp set fire to a tree. The fire was quickly put out and caused little damage, but officials decided the possible threat to power lines and aircraft and buildings was so great they had no alternative but to take this extreme action.

Some Fire Lantern Safety Guidelines

So, unless revellers are careful, the use of this traditional Chinese flying display equipment could end up being prohibited in the UK too on safety grounds. Always follow the safety instructions provided with the product on purchase. The following list is a small subset of a variety of guidelines and information found on the internet.

Inform the Coastguard if near the coast
Let the Police know in advance if there’s the possibility of them being mistaken for UFOs.
Do not use near airports, heath land or other areas likely to catch fire like dry fields
Do not use near power lines or petrol stations or in built up residential areas
Don’t launch in windy conditions and check the prevailing wind direction will not make the lanterns float into or onto buildings.
Only buy from reputable sources

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