A LOCAL authority has poured cold water on the use of sky lanterns on their land to help prevent the threat of fires.

Warwickshire County Council made the decision last week at its full council meeting when members agreed a motion to stop people setting them off on council owned land and property.

The decision came following a request by the county's fire and rescue service with the aim of preventing fires, the danger presented to wildlife and unnecessary litter.

Sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns or Kongming lanterns are small hot air balloons often powered by a candle and are released at party events and at particular times of the year, such as New Year's Eve celebrations.

These lanterns have the potential to start fires depending on where they land and litter the countryside. They can also frighten wildlife and endanger animals if they get trapped, or eat the remains of the lantern.

In June last year a sky lantern sparked a fire in a recycling plant in Smethwick, West Midlands. The fire burned for over three days and caused over £6 million worth of damage.

Community Fire Safety and Arson Reduction Manager, Moreno Francioso said: “We are really pleased that the council has supported our ban of sky lanterns. We have been concerned at the fire risk posed by their use for sometime now. We welcome the support in taking steps to ban them from council owned land. We know this won’t stop people launching them from their back gardens, but we do hope that people will now think twice about the potential risks, before using them.”

Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, Councillor Les Caborn added: “While these lanterns may look nice, when you launch them, they can cause untold damage to our countryside, wildlife and to businesses. I welcome the motion to prohibit their use and hope other residents follow our lead to ensure the safety of our communities.”