Sky Lanterns spark concerns after house nearly catches fire in Porterville

PORTERVILLE, Calif (FOX26) — A Sky Lantern was seen on fire floating above houses in Porterville dropping flames on a home's roof Sunday night. Porterville Fire Department is now warning the public to not use these types of lanterns as they can be highly flammable and dangerous.

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On Sunday evening Porterville resident April Cleveland recorded a video on her cellphone of a Sky Lantern completely engulfed in flames dropping fire on the roof of a house. It is reported the homeowner put the fire out with a water hose before any damage was done.

A Sky Lantern, also known as a Chinese Lantern is a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an hole at the bottom where typically a candle on the inside will suspend the lantern in the air with heat.

Porterville Fire Department posted on Facebook Monday stating, "Recently, the Porterville Fire Department has responded to several incidents believed to be connected to flying lanterns. We would like to remind everyone that these types of lanterns are highly flammable and can be very dangerous. Using this type of lantern is reckless and illegal which can result in jail, fines, or both."

"The risk of the lantern coming down and landing in a residential neighborhood is one of our greatest risks," said Chris Pisani The Public Information Officer for Porterville Fire Department. "It can cause fire, it can cause damage to people's property, it can even cause loss of life."

The danger is so great, the California State Fire Marshal banned the use of sky lanterns in the state back in 2012 as a safety problem and potential fire hazard.

"Really what it is, it is reckless burning which then is its own penal code," said Pisani. "So the actually lantern itself... it's not like it's outlawed per say but because you're using fire and it's floating up recklessly it can be illegal."

According to California Penal Code 452, if someone is caught recklessly burning, the prosecutor can charge them with a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the damage and circumstances.

"There's no control over where they can go and where they can land," said Pisani. "We don't know when the fire is going to burn out and if the fire is going to make its way to the ground or if it's going to drop out of the sky."

The National Park Service also discourages the use of sky lanterns because of potential fire hazards.

"We've gotten several now for them and they are a concern and we want to make sure that the public is informed of how dangerous they are before something really bad happens," said Pisani.

Tips from the National Park Service:

• Make sure the use of sky lanterns is allowed in your area.
• Not all sky lanterns are the same. Always follow the instructions provided.
• Never use sky lanterns indoors.
• Check the weather conditions before launching sky lanterns. Under best conditions sky lanterns should be used on still, clear evenings. If it is rainy or windy, save the sky lanterns for another day.
• Do not use sky lanterns in areas with burnable vegetation. Misuse in this manner has resulted in many wildland fires.
• Next, make sure the area where you want to launch them is clear of obstructions. It is not a good idea to launch sky lanterns in areas that are heavily treed or where there are tall buildings. Instead, choose a clear area free from fire hazards and structures.
• Check the sky lantern itself for any damage, which may make it malfunction.
• Lanterns may drip hot wax from the fuel cell. Follow the directions on where to hold the lantern during lighting and launching to avoid getting burned.
• Consider wearing non-flammable clothing.