The fire service, farmers and RSPCA have reacted angrily to a new initiative encouraging local people to release sky lanterns every Sunday night as a way of showing support for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.
The company selling the lanterns, Night Sky Lanterns, says money made will be donated to the NHS, but local farmers and fire services bosses have raised concerns at the damage the lanterns can cause.
While saying they support the sentiment behind the campaign, farmers responded to a tweet from the company to explain the devastating impact the lanterns can have.
Andy Guy from the National Farmers Union has pleaded with people not to release the lanterns, explaining that they can cause injury or death to livestock, and start fires.
He says: “We’ve been fighting this battle [against sky lanterns] for years. I can’t see a single good aspect to them, to be honest. The countryside is pretty dry – anyone with straw or hay out will be nervous.”
“Not for one moment would I want to stop people celebrating and applauding the NHS – people have been lighting up buildings blue, making donations and clapping. All of those are excellent.”
A spokesman from Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service agrees, saying: “We’ve heard that people are being asked to buy sky lanterns and set them off, in support of our amazing carers. Please do not do this! These lanterns could cause a significant fire. A better, safer way to show your support is to stay at home!”
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has also said the campaign encouraging the public to light sky lanterns in a show of solidarity for NHS workers is “misguided”.
NFCC chair Roy Wilsher says: “While I fully understand people wanting to show their support to the NHS, I would encourage people to find a different way to do this.”
“All emergency services are currently under unprecedented pressure due to Covid-19, and I am concerned this type of activity could not only put additional pressure on the fire service, but further strain on the NHS.”
A Burnham Coastguard spokesman adds: “We’ve heard people have been asked to buy sky lanterns to release in support of our NHS heroes. Please do not do this.”
“Sky lanterns pose a real risk to surrounding property, livestock and farmland. Conditions have been dry recently which means there is a greater risk of fire when they land and they are a huge risk to animals.”
“If they head out to sea they could be mistaken for distress flares prompting call outs for teams around the coast.”
“Please continue to show support for our NHS colleagues in the usual way of clapping and keeping your 2-metre safe distance.”
And a spokeswoman for the RSPCA adds it is “wonderful that people are looking for ways to show their support for the NHS staff and other key workers at this challenging time”.
She adds: “While sky lanterns might look pretty in the sky, they pose a serious danger to horses, farm animals and wildlife. Sadly, many people are unaware of the potentially deadly consequences the release of sky lanterns can have for animals — they can suffer through ingestion, entanglement and entrapment, or simply the sight of a lit lantern in the sky can be terrifying for them and cause them to bolt and harm themselves.”
“We know many people are already aware of the dangers sky lanterns pose to animals, and we hope others will instead choose to show their support and gratitude to key workers in other ways such as clapping from their homes, placing decorated signs in their windows, donating whatever they can to worthy causes, and of course, staying safely at home where possible.”
