Crime & Safety

Sky Lanterns Don't Fly With Local Fire Departments

The floating fire lights are growing in popularity but of concern to fire officials.


Floating night lights called sky lanterns are growing in popularity but not welcome by fire departments in Marblehead and Swampscott.

Marblehead Fire Capt. Michael Porter said the department has received requests from residents who wanted to float the lanterns. And the department has received complaints from people who have seen them drifting in the night sky and worried they would land on their homes or property and spark a fire.

Requests came from the Marblehead High senior class and a wedding party. 
The answer was no and no, he said.

In a town settled densely with homes, many of them older wooden structures, the
flying lanterns pose a fire risk, said the captain, of the department's fire prevention division.

The department has been told by state fire officials that the lanterns can be regulated under current state law that restricts fire hazards, he said.  

Even so the state is looking into legislation with specific language to address the lanterns, he said.

The Chinese sky lanterns are readily available online, so their sale is not restricted, at least not now.

The paper lanterns are miniature hot-air balloons that carry a basket of fire, typically in the night sky, sometimes released at funerals or other major events or ceremonies.

Swampscott Fire Chief Kevin Breen said the Swampscott department has yet to receive requests to float lanterns in town. But if they did, they would have a problem with it.

Based on what he knows of the wind-carried lights it appears there is too much uncertainty about where they land and the fire risk they pose, he said.










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