Paper lanterns are not safe for animals or the environment. They can cause injury, suffering, and death to animals if they do: Perhaps more than any other state in the country, California is prone to wildfires. In 2017, a massive fire swept through Santa Rosa, killing 40 people and destroying more than 6,000 homes. A year earlier, two houses in the town had been set on fire when paper lanterns landed on the roofs of a nearby party. If you are facing charges related to arson, you should immediately speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our experienced criminal defense lawyers have more than 35 years of experience defending clients accused of fire-related crimes. We will work tirelessly and use all our legal knowledge and skills to help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case. Defra is exploring the use of celestial lanterns and disposable grids to demonstrate its commitment to better understanding the problem and its environmental impact. In response, the NFU launched a petition to come together and demonstrate public support for the ban on sky lanterns. While it is unlikely that you will have any criminal consequences if you use a paper lantern, you could have serious legal problems if your sky lantern lights a fire.

You could be charged with negligent arson under section 13001 of the Health and Safety Code. Calls to ban `dangerous` Chinese lanterns Horse & Hound – July 2013 « A terrible fire in the West Midlands caused by a Chinese lantern has sparked new calls for a ban from the British Horse Society and the County Land and Business Association. » Optimal weather conditions to launch your sky lanterns include wind speeds of less than 5 miles per hour. It is recommended to release them on a clear and quiet night. Do not start celestial lanterns when the wind speed is greater than 5 miles per hour, as the sky lantern may deviate from its trajectory in an unpredictable area. N.H. The bill would ban the sale of sky lanterns as a fire hazard Associated Press – November 2013 « The National Association of State Fire Marshals calls them uncontrolled fire hazards because the wind decides where the lanterns are deposited, » said New Hampshire President and Fire Marshal Bill Degnan. In China, Taiwan and Thailand, sky lanterns are traditionally made from rice paper oiled on a bamboo frame. The hot air source can be a small candle or a fuel cell made of a waxy and combustible material. Paper lanterns or celestial lanterns are also prohibited by Florida`s Fireworks Act. Ruth George, then Labour MP for High Peak, introduced a ten-minute bill calling for a ban on sky lanterns in the House of Commons on 27 March 2019. The bill has passed first reading.

[35] However, the bill could not complete its passage by Parliament before the end of the session. (This means that the bill will no longer move forward.) [36] The National Association of State Fire Marshals recommends a ban on sky lanterns FireMarshals.org – March 2013 « National Association of State Fire Marshals Resolution on the Fire Hazard Posed by Skylights and Recommendation to Impose Statewide Bans on their Sale and Use » Although Florida makes most fireworks illegal, some States go even further. Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York have banned the use of all fireworks by consumers. The Vancouver Lantern Festival lights up the night, leaves garbage on the day Global News – February 2014. » spent more than an hour cleaning the lanterns, but could not reach dozens of them stuck high in the trees… Firefighters want to ban celestial lanterns USA Today – November 2013 « The United States The Association of Fire Marshals has passed a resolution calling on states to ban the sale and use of sky lanterns. Sullivan said fire officials want a law « mainly for the fact that if you turn them on and send them, it`s an open fire that you send. » He added, « If these things fall, will these people clean up the mess they leave behind? » This blog post explores concerns about sky lanterns and how these articles are regulated in Washington State. However, you should know that trying to recreate these light festivals in California is illegal. If you want to attend a celestial lantern light festival in California, you should first try to verify that the company hosting the event has the necessary permits to do so legally. In Louisiana, the state fire marshal banned the distribution, sale, and use of sky lanterns in the state in 2013. [34] Pingxi District in New Taipei City, Taiwan, hosts an annual lantern festival where celestial lanterns are released into the night sky, with people`s desires written to send desires and messages to God.

The lantern festival is also known as the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration. [Citation needed] A celestial lantern can land when the flame is still burning, making it a fire hazard. [13] In typical designs, as long as the lantern remains straight, the paper does not heat up enough to ignite, but if the balloon is tilted (for example, by wind or by impacting an object), it can still catch fire in the air. All paper usually burns in seconds, but the flame source can burn until it hits the ground. After the balloon lands, the thin metal frame remaining rusts very slowly and remains a danger to animals that can swallow it. [14] It has also been claimed that sky lanterns pose a danger to aircraft. [15] In 2009, the British company Sky Orbs Chinese Lanterns developed biodegradable refractory wool lanterns. [16] [17] Sky Lanterns Illegal in Maine Maine State Fire Marshal – 2015 « These lanterns are often used for weddings or memorial services.

However, they blow where the wind takes them and can cause fires if they land on something flammable. Maine law does not permit the use, sale, or possession of celestial lanterns in the state. A mother calls for a ban on Chinese lanterns after her three-year-old son was burned by melted wax around the campfire at night Mail Online – November 2010 « It`s not thought his eyes are damaged, but doctors will re-examine him later this week to see if he will be permanently marked. Cael`s mother called for a ban on lanterns, saying, « I want people to realize how dangerous they are. » « The second problem is that lanterns can actually fly quite high. Although this is not a problem in the third century BC. J.-C., when lanterns were invented as a signaling device for the army, it was a problem at a time when air traffic was common. It is possible for a sky lantern to fly in the path of air traffic and cause problems for aircraft. MRSC is a private, non-profit organization that serves local governments in Washington State. Eligible Washington State government agencies can use our free Ask MRSC service to get answers to legal, political, or financial questions. Entire countries have banned the use of sky lanterns, including Argentina, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Spain, Germany and parts of Canada.

In the United States, bans include Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Other states, including Kansas and Missouri and the New York Division of Fire Prevention and Control, are also considering changes to fire safety regulations to regulate the use of sky lanterns. For best results, decorate your celestial lantern with a felt or pen on a hard, flat surface before mounting. When writing or decorating, use as little pressure as possible to make sure the paper is not damaged or torn. The retail sale (but not possession and use) of celestial lanterns that « depend on an open flame to heat the air in the lantern » was banned in Australia on 1 February 2011. [30] I have a problem with the logic of banning celestial lanterns and fireworks while allowing companies to sell them in the state where they are banned! If they make them illegal, the companies that sell them should stop selling them. PERIOD! They don`t make people aware that celestial lanterns are illegal, and then they punish you for using them?! SURE! WELL, THE LITTLE MAN, BECAUSE HE DROPPED HER OFF, BUT DON`T DO ANYTHING FOR THE COMPANY SHE SELLS! THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE!!!!!!!! It is quite logical!!! Do not use celestial lanterns when it rains.