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.
The paper lanterns, which float into the sky when lit, contain candles or paraffin wax, usually suspended on a bamboo or wire frame. When the fuel for the lanterns is exhausted, they eventually land on the ground - often after travelling several miles and up to a kilometre in height. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service released details of the June 21 incident as it warned the public against using the lanterns.
Station manager Scott Brown, the service's protection officer, said: “The Met Office wildfire severity index is currently high or very high across Cornwall and the South West and we are asking everyone to remember the risks and to avoid using any type of sky lantern. The CCTV footage of the lantern landing on the vehicle and the photographs taken at the scene show how that one spark escalated into a large fire.
"We are sharing the images in the hope that people will remember the significant and costly consequences of these popular lanterns that once released, cannot be controlled or predicted."
Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall Council cabinet member with responsibility for the fire service, said: “This was a fantastic effort by the fire crews, who prevented a serious blaze from spreading to nearby buildings. Cornwall Council has already banned the launching of sky lanterns from its land and would urge other landowners and venues across Cornwall to do the same. Not only are they a potential fire risk as demonstrated in this incident, they can also be extremely harmful to livestock and wild animals.”
