Firefighters called after Chinese lantern sets tree alight in Chalkwell Park (From Echo)

I'm surprised this does not happen more often than it does, with the growing amount of these lanterns being released.
Most of these lanterns are released from small back gardens which are hardly the open spaces recommended. Sooner or later it's going to be a house going up in flames.

The first sentence to this story makes no sense.

emcee wrote:
I'm surprised this does not happen more often than it does, with the growing amount of these lanterns being released. Most of these lanterns are released from small back gardens which are hardly the open spaces recommended. Sooner or later it's going to be a house going up in flames.

I’ve seen these many times in my life and I have always thought the same thing. It is a wonder!

Blind Haze wrote:
The first sentence to this story makes no sense.

unless you are a staff member of The Echo....

How is it possible for these things not to have been banned by now? You should have to produce ID to buy them, that way for each and every one you purchase, a fine for littering, a charge of attempted arson and cruelty to animals can be posted to you, after all, you are essentially setting fire to rubbish and letting it float off into the sky to land where it may, potentially causing houses, barns, cars, stables, fields, ect, to be reduced to a pile of ashes with possible loss of life, not to mention the now many recorded cases of these things horribly injuring or killing wildlife, livestock and pets, through burns, ingestion or getting trapped in the remains!

They are indeed a menace. Very dangerous items to have flying around.

It's amazing how these crazes catch on.

Oh please! You people would ban absolutely everything you never had the gumption to try yourselves. You're the most miserable bunch of joyless old curmudgeons I've ever seen.

MILLIONS of Chinese lanterns are set off every year. How often do we see stories of them setting fire to anything? I'll tell you. ONCE. And this is that story.

There's more risk from people smoking than from Chinese lanterns.

No-one ever takes any note of the safety instructions, including not to let off within the vicinity of an airport without permission.

In Thailand where these lanterns are used for many occasions, they must only be released on the beach or land by the sea. Also there must be a wind blowing from the shore so that they fly out over the sea. A heavy fine is applicable if these rules are not carries out.

steve@eastwood wrote:
In Thailand where these lanterns are used for many occasions, they must only be released on the beach or land by the sea. Also there must be a wind blowing from the shore so that they fly out over the sea. A heavy fine is applicable if these rules are not carries out.

If we done that in Southend we would set fire to Canvey or Kent...

*Evil laugh*

RantyMan wrote:
How is it possible for these things not to have been banned by now? You should have to produce ID to buy them, that way for each and every one you purchase, a fine for littering, a charge of attempted arson and cruelty to animals can be posted to you, after all, you are essentially setting fire to rubbish and letting it float off into the sky to land where it may, potentially causing houses, barns, cars, stables, fields, ect, to be reduced to a pile of ashes with possible loss of life, not to mention the now many recorded cases of these things horribly injuring or killing wildlife, livestock and pets, through burns, ingestion or getting trapped in the remains!

I completely agree with this. Much as I am the kind of person who hates legislation ruling everyone's lives over and above common sense, and much as I have enjoyed watching Chinese lanterns in the past, when I realised how much pain and suffering they often cause wildlife it made me really upset. I will never buy another one. Sorry to be a killjoy but hey, sometimes one person's joy causes suffering for others, whether it be humans or animals and I don't enjoy being part of that.

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:
Oh please! You people would ban absolutely everything you never had the gumption to try yourselves. You're the most miserable bunch of joyless old curmudgeons I've ever seen.

MILLIONS of Chinese lanterns are set off every year. How often do we see stories of them setting fire to anything? I'll tell you. ONCE. And this is that story.

There's more risk from people smoking than from Chinese lanterns.

Anything to do with the Chinese is dodgy, poorly made dangerous products are all that comes out of China other than questionable swimmers and badminton players.

Max Impact wrote:

steve@eastwood wrote: In Thailand where these lanterns are used for many occasions, they must only be released on the beach or land by the sea. Also there must be a wind blowing from the shore so that they fly out over the sea. A heavy fine is applicable if these rules are not carries out.

If we done that in Southend we would set fire to Canvey or Kent... *Evil laugh*

Or perhaps the end of the pier!!!

Brunning999 wrote:

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:
Oh please! You people would ban absolutely everything you never had the gumption to try yourselves. You're the most miserable bunch of joyless old curmudgeons I've ever seen.

MILLIONS of Chinese lanterns are set off every year. How often do we see stories of them setting fire to anything? I'll tell you. ONCE. And this is that story.

There's more risk from people smoking than from Chinese lanterns.

Anything to do with the Chinese is dodgy, poorly made dangerous products are all that comes out of China other than questionable swimmers and badminton players.

That's an extremely sweeping generalisation. Care to provide evidence for your assertion that "poorly made dangerous products are all that comes out of China"?

Brunning999 wrote:

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:
Oh please! You people would ban absolutely everything you never had the gumption to try yourselves. You're the most miserable bunch of joyless old curmudgeons I've ever seen.

MILLIONS of Chinese lanterns are set off every year. How often do we see stories of them setting fire to anything? I'll tell you. ONCE. And this is that story.

There's more risk from people smoking than from Chinese lanterns.

Anything to do with the Chinese is dodgy, poorly made dangerous products are all that comes out of China other than questionable swimmers and badminton players.

seconded although i wouldn't have been quite so delicate.call a spade a spade el cabbie...it's all crapp. how surprising to see the shoebury commie defending chinese products....

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:
Oh please! You people would ban absolutely everything you never had the gumption to try yourselves. You're the most miserable bunch of joyless old curmudgeons I've ever seen.

MILLIONS of Chinese lanterns are set off every year. How often do we see stories of them setting fire to anything? I'll tell you. ONCE. And this is that story.

There's more risk from people smoking than from Chinese lanterns.

They have the "potential" to be dangerous, especially as most are launched by idiots who do not take heed of any safety advice, launching them in built up areas, for example.
Also, they have the potential to be very dangerous to wildlife and farm animals (google it to see why) and it is farmers who seem to be the loudest voice in calling for a ban.
They are already banned in some countries, like Germany and Australia. You need to ask yourself why countries may feel the need to ban them and would that reason be relevant to this country, also.

emcee wrote:

Lefty Cyclist Type wrote:
Oh please! You people would ban absolutely everything you never had the gumption to try yourselves. You're the most miserable bunch of joyless old curmudgeons I've ever seen.

MILLIONS of Chinese lanterns are set off every year. How often do we see stories of them setting fire to anything? I'll tell you. ONCE. And this is that story.

There's more risk from people smoking than from Chinese lanterns.

They have the "potential" to be dangerous, especially as most are launched by idiots who do not take heed of any safety advice, launching them in built up areas, for example.
Also, they have the potential to be very dangerous to wildlife and farm animals (google it to see why) and it is farmers who seem to be the loudest voice in calling for a ban.
They are already banned in some countries, like Germany and Australia. You need to ask yourself why countries may feel the need to ban them and would that reason be relevant to this country, also.

Everything has the 'potential' to be dangerous, should we ban everything?

Its bizarre. If I set fire to a paper bag in the street I would be arrested yet I can set fire to one of these stupid things and launch it into the air. Didn't some get a load of of burning liquid in their face from one of these?

bignosechaff wrote:
Its bizarre. If I set fire to a paper bag in the street I would be arrested yet I can set fire to one of these stupid things and launch it into the air. Didn't some get a load of of burning liquid in their face from one of these?

Yep, they were nominated for a Darwin!