Firefighters join call for ban on sky lanterns

Rural firefighters in Wairarapa have joined a call for the banning of sky lanterns sales nationally.
The sky lanterns, also known as flying lanterns, work on the same principle as a hot air balloon and are powered by a tea-light candle that heats up the air inside the paper lantern. They can fly for several kilometres and reach heights of around 800 metres.
Phill Wishnowsky, principal rural fire officer for Wairarapa, is backing a National Rural Fire Authority call for the banning of sky lantern sales.
"The lanterns have a massive potential to cause vegetation fires rurally and in urban areas as well as being easily mistaken for emergency flares.
"There have already been instances where emergency teams have been sent out because somebody thought a lantern was a flare."
Mr Wishnowsky said his opposition to sales of the lanterns comes because of risks the gadgets pose "to property and people - not because I'm a party-pooper".
National rural fire officer Murray Dudfield said the lanterns are "simply not suitable for the New Zealand environment".
"Our variable winds and rolling to steep terrain mean that once these sky lanterns are launched they are at immediate risk of being blown into dry vegetation and other places where they could start a fire. These flying lanterns are designed for use in calm wind conditions in wide open spaces- which are a rarity here."
There has been one known instance this year of a sky lantern setting fire to a pine plantation in Northland.
Mr Dudfield is particularly concerned the lanterns may be sold in large numbers during Chinese New Year celebrations that start on February 14.
"Many parts of the country are very dry now and it will be worse later in summer. Regions that are particularly dry are Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Hawkes Bay and Central Otago. The drought conditions coupled with variable wind means there's a high risk of fire from these burning candles and paper."
Mr Dudfield said the National Rural Fire Authority has begun alerting suppliers to the dangers the lanterns pose.
"Ideally we would like to see a ban on their sale and we have bought the matter to the attention of the Ministry of Commerce."
In the meantime, in rural areas where there is a fire ban or a fire restriction in place people wanting to use sky lanterns would need to apply for a permit.
It is unlikely a permit would be granted, Mr Dudfield said.
Mr Wishnowsky said a restricted fire season is still in place in some coastal Wairarapa areas although fire permits would most likely be granted if sought.