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Farmer's Fire Fear: Ban Sky Lanterns Now!
23 Jul
Summary
- Farmer finds lantern, narrowly avoiding fire risk.
- Wildfire risk remains high due to dry weather.
- Campaign calls for complete sky lantern ban.
An arable farmer has intensified calls for a complete ban on sky lanterns amidst prolonged dry weather. Nigel Barnes discovered a lantern near his Bedfordshire farm on Thursday, expressing relief it did not ignite a fire.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service continues to warn of a high wildfire risk, emphasizing that even minor sparks can cause devastating blazes. Barnes recounted a past incident where a wedding lantern caused significant crop damage.
The farmer is backing the National Farmers Union's campaign for the government to enact a total ban in England and Wales. Approximately 200 local councils have voluntarily banned lanterns on their land, but this measure is not universally applied.
Meanwhile, fire services across southern and central England are battling multiple wildfires, urging the public to exercise extreme caution. This includes responsible cigarette disposal and avoiding campfires, as several areas approach drought conditions. Thames Water has already announced a hosepipe ban, effective from Thursday.
