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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Flying lanterns take a toll on the farm

Saturday, November 3, 2012

"Flying Lanterns," a type of firework which resembles a small paper hot-air balloon fuelled by an open flame, are being labelled a threat by the office of the Ontario Fire Marshall.  When released, the hot air produced by the fire source can carry the lanterns to extreme heights, where they can drift for long distances before the flame is depleted and they return to Earth. They're often released in large numbers at one time for effect, and the Fire Marshall warns there is potential for these little flying fireballs to land on trees, rooftops or in tall grass while still ignited.

The Fire Marshall wants Health Canada to ban online and retail store sales and is encouraging retailers to do so voluntarily. A warning was issued in May of 2009 and again on Aug. 1 of this year alerting fire departments about the dangers. But fire isn't the only concern.

Farmers note that large numbers of them have been seen in the Tavistock area, southeast of Stratford, and point to concerns about dangers to livestock health. In February 2010, The Telegraph newspaper in Britain carried a story about a farmer's pedigree Red Poll cow dying after eating part of a discarded lantern. A British manufacturer said it would redesign the device to remove wires. The company had sold 29,000 of the lanterns in 2008 and 100,000 in 2009.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office wants fire departments to report incidents to Health Canada. BF

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