A warning has been issued after a single sky lantern destroyed 14 vehicles at a business park. The blaze at Newport Industrial Estate in Launceston, Cornwall, started after the lantern landed on the windscreen wipers of a van.
A review of CCTV from the night of the blaze by Cornwall Council showed it starting to smoulder and then suddenly catching light. The incident was attended by fire crews from Launceston, Callington and Liskeard.
Luckily, two neighbouring properties were narrowly saved by the fire teams. Cornwall Council said that sky lanterns had become popular for celebrations and events, but they could pose a serious fire risk to homes, tents and wildlife.
