The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has warned against a public campaign urging the public to decorate and light sky lanterns to show support for the NHS.
The campaign has asked the lanterns to be released from gardens and driveways to display solidarity for frontline workers, however what may be a beautiful sight could have potentially serious and dangerous consequences.
The message from the fire service comes days after the SFRS stressed that Scotland’s countryside is currently “vulnerable” to wildfire, and as the emergency services continue to support partners and protect the public amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The National Farmers Union of Scotland and other organisations have also called for the displays to be cancelled.
Alasdair Perry, SFRS Deputy Assistant Chief Officer, said: “We fully appreciate that people want to show their support for the NHS, however we must discourage the lighting of sky lanterns.
“These lanterns may look striking when lit, but when released they pose a significant threat of fire and can have devastating consequences – for rural environments, property and wildlife.
“This is clearly a challenging time for the emergency services due to COVID-19, and while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service maintains a high resilience across Scotland, we would seek to avoid any unnecessary demand on our service so we can target our resources most effectively in supporting our partners and meeting the needs of Scotland’s communities.
“Traditionally, this is a period when we see a high volume of large wildfires in Scotland, due to a build-up of dead vegetation in our countryside, and rising temperatures. We can’t risk adding a potential ignition to that mix.
“While I fully understand people wanting to show their support to the NHS, I would encourage people to find a different way to do this.
“Our message is clear: please do not release lit sky lanterns, and risk potentially placing unnecessary pressure on the emergency services.”
