to think Chinese Lanterns should be banned

[Bimbledorf]

dangerous

As beautiful as they are, Chinese Lanterns are the cause of many fires every year; today they are the cause of the above... Why are we still allowed to use them?

[Poppetspinkpants]

Norman Price even let one off on Fireman Sam today.
It set fire to a tree in the forest.
But he's a little shite anyway.

[Manchesterhistorygirl]

They have caused several hay barn fires too, they're bloody dangerous and should be banned.

[MarmaladeTwatkins]

They need banning in the form they are in now.

Some clever engineer somewhere must be able to invent a safe version.

[MarmaladeTwatkins]

That bloody Norman price

[Northernlurker]

I watched the kids over the road set some off for their mum who had died. I think they are beautiful but also dangerous. Sitting on the fence on this one because whilst I think the dangers mean they shoudl be banned i'm not going to condemn anybody who's found comfort in a loss from them.

[Ilanthe]

My DH has just phoned to tell me about this - he has been petitioning for concrete rather than plastic bases for dangerous things at work for this very reason. He'll be getting them now.

[exexpat]

Chinese lanterns and balloon releases should be banned. People have suggested both to me as ways for my DCs to mark their father's birthday or the day he died (DH died nearly 7 years ago) but there is no way I would ever do that. There are ways to remember people that do not involve endangering lives, buildings, wildlife and so on.

RSPCA on Chinese lanterns

Don't let go campaign on balloon releases by Marine Conservation Society

Today is not the first time a Chinese lantern has set fire to a waste/recycling plant

[Startail]

The fashion for Chinese lanterns is not helped by the paranoia over fire works.

Yes fire works are noisy, and in the wrong hands dangerous, but they are not designed to keep burning.

Chinese lanterns are like randomly dropping a few sheets of paper and a lit firelighter round the countryside.

[SoupDragon]

i'm not going to condemn anybody who's found comfort in a loss from them.

The thing is, one person's comfort could, in this case, have resulted in 9 injured firefighters and £££ of damage. Is that a fair exchange?

Obviously there is no knowing why this particular lantern was released but the principle is the same IMO.

[Euclase]

They are dangerous. My horse found one in his field and stepped on it, the wire the became entangled around his hoof and caused very deep cuts to his leg.

Thankfully I found him early in the morning enough to stop it doing more damage.

Fucking awful things they are. Should be banned.

[MalenkyRusskyDrakonchik]

Well said, soup.

[SoupDragon]

Even the risk of wire is kind of a red herring as there are wire free versions sold with this fact plastered across the packaging as if it is the only thing wrong with the original versions.

I agree they look beautiful and I agree they can offer comfort and a way to remember someone lost.
I do not think these two things cancel out the risks and negative points though.

[Weegiemum]

Norman Price. Possibly the child in most need of a social services referral.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Yes fire works are noisy, and in the wrong hands dangerous, but they are not designed to keep burning.
Tell that to the owners of the restaurant that burned down near me on bonfire night when I was younger!
But anyway. That's beside the by.

I agree with Soupy. Comforting they maybe, but you can't comfort yourself at the expense of others property, their lives and the lives of their animals. That's just selfish.
How about one of those battery powered tea lights inside a bio degradable helium balloon, if you really need to release something? Or a white dove?

[LittleSporksBigSpork]

Like I said on the other thread - these sky lanterns are incredibly dangerous, the old Chinese lanterns (the ones attached to a ribbon) are far better though harder to locate these days with these sky lanterns being fashionable.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Here Shocking pictures!

[HesterShaw]

Chinese Lanterns are an abomination and are simply legal littering, the same as balloon releases. People seem to have a mental block about them. They float out over the sea and caused marine wildlife to suffer, as well as land animals. They cause death and destruction and should be illegal.

[HesterShaw]

And I can't imagine there is anyone who would want to be remembered by causing damage and suffering to animals and people. If you want to remember someone, plant a tree or a flowerbed.

[RubberBullets]

Helium is running out so we shouldn't really be using it in balloons either. It is better saved for medical use

[Bimbledorf]

Is it? That's an interesting fact RubberBullets

[MadeOfStarDust]

We were accused of "ruining wedding day memories" by a family at the nearby hotel when we claimed for about £1200 repairs to our conservatory caused by their "negligent" flying of these lanterns -

they had not even informed the local airport - 500m away - and the hotel had warned them that they were not to be flown there!

The waxy stuff drip-stained the uPVC all the way down from the peak it caught on down to the ground... luckily it was not burning too well and was easily extinguished.

[RiffyWammal]

They are an absolute menace and should be banned (as should fireworks in my opinion). DH saw the massive plume of smoke from the blaze today on his way to work, and we live 11 miles away!

People who live in thatched cottages must live in constant fear of these things all year round - at least fireworks are mostly just November and New Year!

[exexpat]

Yes, the worldwide helium shortage is yet another good reason for not doing balloon releases.

[FeckOffCup]

I have a couple of these in the cupboard I was given as a gift I must dig them out and bin them, I didn't realise they were so destructive although as a previous poster said it's flying fire so common sense should say they aren't a good idea. We did have them on our wedding day but they were a surprise from the PIL who had recently been to Thailand and seen them there and it would have been pretty churlish to refuse them on the day but I hope the PILs see the news coverage about the Midlands fire and don't buy any more in future.

[Lovesabadboy]

We set one of these off on a New Year's Eve a few years ago (before the dangers were widely known and accepted).
It floated up but not up far enough, hit our neighbours roof and rolled down into their back garden - we could see the flames flickering on their new fence. [shocked]
We were horrified and hammered on the door. Luckily they were awake and went out and extinguished it, but the consequences could have been hideous.

I would never, ever set one off again and agree that, yes, they should be banned.


My husband and daughters did a charity walk for the local hospice this weekend and, their normal procedure of letting off balloons for lost loved ones did not take place this year due to helium supplies becoming depleted.