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MERRITT HERALD TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
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Flying objects identified as sky lanterns Fire department warns of dangers after lanterns land at mill By Emily Wessel THE HERALD
newsroom@merrittherald.com
Consider the mystery of the bright orange lights floating over Merritt on March 31 solved by the Merritt Fire Rescue Department. As it turns out, they were flying lanterns. These lanterns are essentially little hot air balloons made of paper and powered by flames from candles or fuelsoaked wax paper. They catch in the wind and drift until their flames burn out. However, in this case, the lanterns kept burning once they hit the ground — at a local lumber yard. An employee spotted them coming down at Aspen Planers’ site two on Houston Street and was able to extinguish the flames. The lanterns are popular in several parts of the world, where people let them fly in large quantities as part of celebrations and festivals. In this case, the release appeared to be a memorial. But where they landed has prompted the city’s fire department to warn Merrittonians of the fire hazard these sky lanterns really are. Fire prevention officer Sky McKeown said the sight of the lanterns probably causes people
Scotia, and in parts of Spain, Germany, Brazil and Austria. McKeown said besides a fire risk, the lanterns pose risks to wildlife and other animals because the wire frames and waxy fuel sources aren’t biodegradable. Kamloops Fire Centre fire information officer Kayla Pepper said the Wildfire Management Branch has a partial prohibition on sky lanterns, which means they can’t be lit up and sent off in the Merritt Fire Zone between May 15 and Oct. 15 as per provincial fire bans. That restriction applies to areas outside of municipalities. “When we do open burning restrictions, it’s not only for piled wood in your backyard. It also includes fireworks, burning barrels, and as of last year, sky lanterns,” Pepper said. “That’s due to the unpredictable nature of Merritt Fire Rescue Department fire prevention officer Sky McKeown (left) and Chief Dave Tomkinson are asking Merritt residents not to use flying lanterns after several, sky lanterns. When you including the one McKeown is holding, landed at a local lumber yard (background) where they continued to burn. The fires were caught and put out by a mill employee. release them, you can’t Emily Wessel/Herald always control where can be several kilomecause major damage supposed to extinguish quite beautiful at the to forget that they’re they land. They are tres away from where before they come down, and it was caught soon time, but it definitely sending an open flame identified as a wildfire they’re lit when they in this case, the lanterns enough.” could’ve had some ‘unup in the air, which risk.” go up into the breeze,” McKeown said the kept burning once on can’t be controlled once beautiful’ consequencThe dates of the McKeown said. “In this prohibition can be lanterns pose a differthe ground. es,” McKeown said. it takes off. case, that’s what hapent risk than fireworks “When it landed, it About six to eight of Sky lanterns are altered depending on because fireworks aren’t pened.” simply prohibited under the lanterns drifted over actually started to burn how dry the season is, The lanterns have nearly as likely to drift the rice paper that it’s the City of Merritt’s fire the city and eventuPepper said. been banned in other as these lanterns. built from,” McKeown ally came down to the and safety regulations, Pepper said there’s parts of Canada includ- already a risk for grass “Different from said of one of the langround at the lumber McKeown said. ing P.E.I. and Nova fireworks, these things terns. “Luckily, it didn’t yard. Although they’re “It was probably fires in the area.
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