With the Chinese New Year starting tomorrow (1 February 2022), please make fire safety a priority.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service strongly advises against the use of sky lanterns.
Also known as Chinese lanterns, they are a serious fire risk as you cannot know where they will land and who or what will be there.
As well as the serious risk of causing a fire, there are also other risks to crops, vehicles, livestock and the environment.
Additionally, there have been numerous safety risks to aircraft, with debris posing a risk to taxiing aircraft and causing delays to take-off and landing.
Sky lanterns are illegal in Germany – but in 2020 caused a serious fire at a zoo in Krefeld where dozens of animals, including 30 primates in the monkey house, died.
If you require any fire safety advice, then call the Prevention Team any time between 09:00 and 17:00 on 0800 032 1155, and speak to one of our experts for help and guidance.
Further safety advice is on our website at hwfire.org.uk/safety-and-advice
If you would like guidance on safety when celebrating, there is helpful advice at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-when-celebrating or visit https://firekills.campaign.gov.uk/ .
Herefordshire Council also has useful guidance at Environment and pollution – Herefordshire Council.
Have a wonderful but safe Chinese New Year celebration.