Sky lanterns can be “potentially devastating” for the environment and should not be lit this Bonfire Night, local wildlife charities and firefighters say.
The flimsy lanterns, typically made from paper supported by a wire or bamboo frame, can rise up to a height of up to 1,200 feet, fly for more than 20 minutes, and travel 30 miles before their fuel cells expire.
While they might look beautiful set against a darkened sky, if they land while still burning or hot, they can result in severe fires and injure animals — not to mention the threats they pose to properties.
And even if they don’t start a blaze, wildlife can end up in trouble if they get tangled in or eat their remains.
Aren’t sky lanterns banned?
Although they have perhaps dipped in popularity in recent years as understanding of the dangers they present have become better understood, sky lanterns can still sometimes be seen in Scottish skies around Bonfire Night and Hogmanay.
There is no specific national ban in Scotland, but certain councils have taken steps to restrict their use.
In September, Moray Council voted to ban their release at events on council-owned or managed land.
And in 2020, Highland Council urged people against using them to show support to NHS workers fighting on the front lines of the Covid pandemic.
Aberdeenshire Council has forbidden their release from their land because of the risks they create.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “We know that sky lanterns pose hazards to wildlife and livestock, causing injury and death and we would urge people to consider alternatives.
“Lanterns can also cause injury to humans, damage to buildings, and false callouts to the coastguard.
“Because of this risk, it is Aberdeenshire Council policy not to allow them to be released on our land, for instance, at our country parks.”
‘They are setting fire to a floating incendiary device’
Keith Marley, founder of the Aberdeenshire-based wildlife rescue centre New Arc, cares passionately for Scotland’s nature and says he can’t comprehend why people would wish to use sky lanterns given the dangers they pose to our wild places and the animals that live in them.
Keith said: “I don’t want to be a killjoy, but I cannot understand the mentality of people who wish to release these lanterns.
“Basically, they are setting fire to a floating incendiary device over which they have no control and have no concerns of where they land.
“They fail to understand that once the paper lantern starts to burn out it can fall to the earth still on fire.
“It shows a complete disregard for other people, their property and the environment which may suffer the consequences of their actions.”
An RSPB Scotland spokesman added: “If they are still on fire when they land, they pose a risk to dry habitats such as heathland, woodland and reed beds which are particularly vulnerable to fire.
“And as litter, lanterns threaten wildlife which can become entangled in, or ingest, the wire which can lead to injury or death.”
Sky lanterns create even more work for firefighters on busiest night of the year
Group commander Craig Wallace is part of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s community safety team in Aberdeen.
He explained that people letting off sky lanterns around Bonfire Night can make one of the busiest periods of the year for firefighters even more hectic and dangerous.
Craig said: “We discourage the lighting of sky lanterns because when they’re released they pose a significant threat of fire that could be potentially devastating for rural environments, property and wildlife.
“Bonfire night is one of the busiest periods of the year for our crews across Scotland.
“We encourage the public to attend organised events wherever possible.”
Conversation