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Smethwick fire shows Chinese lanterns should be banned Smethwick fire shows Chinese lanterns should be banned
(3 months later)
There will now be repeated calls – with plenty of justification, in my view – for the banning of sky lanterns, following the huge fire at a recycling centre at Smethwick in the West Midlands which injured nine firefighters and destroyed 50,000 tonnes of paper and plastic. The fire service blamed the fire on a "Chinese lantern".There will now be repeated calls – with plenty of justification, in my view – for the banning of sky lanterns, following the huge fire at a recycling centre at Smethwick in the West Midlands which injured nine firefighters and destroyed 50,000 tonnes of paper and plastic. The fire service blamed the fire on a "Chinese lantern".
Sky lanterns having been the focus of increased complaints and concern over recent years, most notably by farmers who say the metal frames that fall into their fields once the lantern runs out of fuel cause serious, sometimes fatal, injuries to livestock either when the animals ingest them in their fodder, or by standing on them.Sky lanterns having been the focus of increased complaints and concern over recent years, most notably by farmers who say the metal frames that fall into their fields once the lantern runs out of fuel cause serious, sometimes fatal, injuries to livestock either when the animals ingest them in their fodder, or by standing on them.
Michael Eavis, the Glastonbury festival organiser, banned them from being brought onto the site this year for the first time. Before the festival started, he told the Central Somerset Gazette:Michael Eavis, the Glastonbury festival organiser, banned them from being brought onto the site this year for the first time. Before the festival started, he told the Central Somerset Gazette:
I have had two cattle killed in this way [ingestion] at Worthy Farm. The ban of the lanterns is for a reason. Hopefully this information will deter anyone from bringing them onto site this year.I have had two cattle killed in this way [ingestion] at Worthy Farm. The ban of the lanterns is for a reason. Hopefully this information will deter anyone from bringing them onto site this year.
The RSPCA has also called for a ban on their use. Even before today's devastating fire, the West Midlands Fire Service had published a page on its website devoted to sky lanterns:The RSPCA has also called for a ban on their use. Even before today's devastating fire, the West Midlands Fire Service had published a page on its website devoted to sky lanterns:
West Midlands do not recommend the use of Chinese Flying Lanterns for the following reasons:
* They can cause fires to hedges, thatched properties, fields etc.
* They pose a risk to livestock. If they eat the lanterns and wire it can cause injury to their stomachs and mouths.
* Even though some parts are biodegradable they do remain on view either on the ground, in trees and hedges, which is an eyesore.
* The emergency services can also suffer a loss of resources whilst having to deal with lantern sightings being mistaken as something else e.g a distress flair or UFO.		West Midlands do not recommend the use of Chinese Flying Lanterns for the following reasons:
* They can cause fires to hedges, thatched properties, fields etc.
* They pose a risk to livestock. If they eat the lanterns and wire it can cause injury to their stomachs and mouths.
* Even though some parts are biodegradable they do remain on view either on the ground, in trees and hedges, which is an eyesore.
* The emergency services can also suffer a loss of resources whilst having to deal with lantern sightings being mistaken as something else e.g a distress flair or UFO.
In response to the fire, the National Farmers Union (NFU), Women's Food and Farming Union and Marine Conservation Society have issued a joint press release:In response to the fire, the National Farmers Union (NFU), Women's Food and Farming Union and Marine Conservation Society have issued a joint press release:
Eunice Finney, vice president of the Women's Food and Farming Union, said: "These lanterns are far more dangerous than fireworks. We have warned Defra that there could be a death next while our politicians fail to act."
The Marine Conservation Society's head of conservation, Mike Cook, said that as well as a fire risk, lanterns were also a danger for wildlife through choking and entanglement when they came back down to earth or float out to sea.
"Lanterns floating over the sea have been mistaken for distress flares. We have received reports of numerous false alarms for the Coastguard and RNLI. MCS volunteers regularly find bits of lanterns on beaches during the hundreds of beach cleans we carry out every year. The paper may have gone but the frames are still intact and dangerous – both to humans and marine wildlife. These mobile fireballs have to come down somewhere, and it's often on farmland or out at sea."
The NFU has received numerous reports of harm to livestock, and in some instances death, caused by cattle ingesting the metal wires contained within the lantern frames. Lanterns can also be also be chopped up during silage and hay making leading to ingestion at a later date, while the wire can also get tangled around the animal's feet or become embedded in its skin.
The NFU is also concerned about the bamboo frame used in the construction of most lanterns, which are very durable and prone to splintering, and continues to monitor potential problems similar to those found with metal wires.		Eunice Finney, vice president of the Women's Food and Farming Union, said: "These lanterns are far more dangerous than fireworks. We have warned Defra that there could be a death next while our politicians fail to act."
The Marine Conservation Society's head of conservation, Mike Cook, said that as well as a fire risk, lanterns were also a danger for wildlife through choking and entanglement when they came back down to earth or float out to sea.
"Lanterns floating over the sea have been mistaken for distress flares. We have received reports of numerous false alarms for the Coastguard and RNLI. MCS volunteers regularly find bits of lanterns on beaches during the hundreds of beach cleans we carry out every year. The paper may have gone but the frames are still intact and dangerous – both to humans and marine wildlife. These mobile fireballs have to come down somewhere, and it's often on farmland or out at sea."
The NFU has received numerous reports of harm to livestock, and in some instances death, caused by cattle ingesting the metal wires contained within the lantern frames. Lanterns can also be also be chopped up during silage and hay making leading to ingestion at a later date, while the wire can also get tangled around the animal's feet or become embedded in its skin.
The NFU is also concerned about the bamboo frame used in the construction of most lanterns, which are very durable and prone to splintering, and continues to monitor potential problems similar to those found with metal wires.
Today's fire will be deeply embarrassing to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which published a report in May, based on a literature review, saying that the risk from sky lanterns was "low" and, therefore, a ban on their use was not warranted.Today's fire will be deeply embarrassing to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which published a report in May, based on a literature review, saying that the risk from sky lanterns was "low" and, therefore, a ban on their use was not warranted.
Instead, Defra said it would be working with lantern manufacturers to make sure they publish "much clearer guidance to raise public awareness of how to use them responsibly".Instead, Defra said it would be working with lantern manufacturers to make sure they publish "much clearer guidance to raise public awareness of how to use them responsibly".
But the problem is there is only one way to use a sky lantern. You light it and watch it float away into the sky. That's it. The only "control" you have – if you can call it that - is knowing which way the wind is blowing and from where you launch it. But even with that information, you have no real way of knowing where it will fall to the ground.But the problem is there is only one way to use a sky lantern. You light it and watch it float away into the sky. That's it. The only "control" you have – if you can call it that - is knowing which way the wind is blowing and from where you launch it. But even with that information, you have no real way of knowing where it will fall to the ground.
Some manufacturers have tried to appease critics by offering "biodegradable" lanterns. But, as I noted four years ago, such claims don't appear to stack up under scrutiny. (Amusingly, on page 55 of the Defra study, it rates my 2009 article for "independence", "reliability" and "robustness".)Some manufacturers have tried to appease critics by offering "biodegradable" lanterns. But, as I noted four years ago, such claims don't appear to stack up under scrutiny. (Amusingly, on page 55 of the Defra study, it rates my 2009 article for "independence", "reliability" and "robustness".)
So, on the charge sheet against sky lanterns you have: they can kill or injure animals, cause fires, misdirect the emergency services and litter the countryside.So, on the charge sheet against sky lanterns you have: they can kill or injure animals, cause fires, misdirect the emergency services and litter the countryside.
In their defence: they look pretty...In their defence: they look pretty...
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