countryfile - dangers of sky lanterns.

[ThatVikRinA22]

ive long since said that sky lanterns pose a danger - you are setting fire to something and letting it go.....on countryfile now there is a report on them.
they kill cattle (on farmer has lost 9 in 18 months - the cows ate lanterns that fell in the field - the wire killed them)

they kill wildlife - i was sent a picture of an owl that had become entangled in a sky lantern, its decomposing body tangled in the wire.

they start fires - the largest fire they are blamed for was at a plastics recycling plant and took 200 fire fighters to tackle it.

they interviewed a man who had a caravan park - a lantern started a fire which wiped out 200 caravans and caused over half a million pounds worth of damage.

i wish people would realise that what goes up, must come down, and that even though the fire may go out, the core temp of the wire and parts inside the lantern remains at over 500 degrees. (fire crews just did tests with thermal imaging cameras....)

why have they become so popular?

[OddBoots]

Most people know this by now, don't they?

I certainly know several people who used to use them (often to remember loved ones who have died) who no longer do so.

[OddBoots]

Sorry, that sounded snippier than I intended. If there are people who don't know then it's certainly worth highlighting as Countryfile and you have.

[ThatVikRinA22]

oh dont worry - i didnt take that as being snippy. i was posting just because so many people i know still use the flipping things - my DDs friend died and they released them at the memorial. its a nice idea but im sure there are better ways to honour someone.

i think i will write it into my will! do not release lanterns! or balloons!

[Bluecarrot]

My DDs "Eco" school used to release them. I figured it was plain ignorance rather than intentional.

I have seen wire free ones in The Works but it obv doesn't stop the fire risk, only risk caused by wire.