Festive & Elegant But Set Aloft, Sky Lanterns Pose Fire Hazard: BFD

BRANFORD, CT — Where it was launched is unknown, but a burnt sky lantern was found on the deck of a home earlier this week, Branford fire department officials said.

"The property owner was extremely lucky that the lantern did not cause fire damage," a Facebook post from the Branford Fire Department reads.

Released and untethered sky lanterns are prohibited under state fire safety codes because of fire danger, it's noted.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, the popular, elegant-looking festive devices are made of oiled rice paper with a bamboo frame, materials that can easily catch on fire. The way they work: a candle or wax fuel cell is used and when the lit flame heats the inside of the lantern, it rises into the air. The NFPA notes that once lit and airborne, a lantern can travel a mile or more. And, wind can affect its movement, "blowing the sides, forcing the hot air out and sending the flaming lantern back to the ground."

"A flaming lantern can drop onto a rooftop, field, trees, or power lines before the flame is fully extinguished," the NFPA notes.

The Branford Fire Department took the opportunity to educate the public on the potential dangers associated with sky lanterns and, the state's rules against their use.