North Wales Fire and Rescue Service urges people not to release sky lanterns to thank NHS

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has urged people not to take part in a campaign to release sky lanterns to thank NHS workers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A London-based company which sells the paper balloons has recently encouraged individuals to release them every Sunday night as a way of showing support for the health service during the coronavirus pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The lanterns have already been banned by all councils in North Wales due to the fire risk and danger posed to animals. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A spokesperson for the region’s fire service said: “At a time when wildfires are on the increase we discourage the use of sky lanterns. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“While we fully understand people wanting to show their support to the NHS, sky lanterns are a fire hazard and many local authorities have already banned them.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Fire crews in North Wales have been called to deal with a number of fires in the open in recent weeks. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It includes a gorse fire on Anglesey over the weekend, which the service believes may have been started deliberately. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

RSPCA Cymru has also previously highlighted the dangers associated with the use of sky lanterns because of the potential to cause harm to animals. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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