Police are urging people to consider what they are doing and use common sense prior to sending Chinese Lanterns up in the sky.
Sergeant Jason Homan of the Orewa Police said emergency services Auckland wide have been repeatedly called out to investigate maritime flare sightings by members of the public recently which have turned out to be Chinese Lanterns.
It is a common occurrence when we have settled weather that people set of these Chinese Lanterns which are capable of flying hundreds of feet in the air and give the same visual effect as a maritime flare, each sighting ties up a significant number of emergency resources such as eagle helicopter and police launch section to investigate the sightings Mr Homan said.
Chinese Lanterns are generally rice paper which is crafted like a hot air balloon and has a small fire burner placed underneath, the hot air gathers in the top like a hot air balloon and they rise into the sky sometimes hundreds of feet high.
We have to investigate these reports of flare sightings as it may well be a legitimate flare that has been set off and someone needs assistance Mr Homan said.
We would ask that people use common sense before setting these lanterns off into the sky.
The other risk involved is that people have no control where these lanterns end up and they can be a huge fire hazard should they land in the wrong place due to the fire burner underneath.
Police ask that members of the public continue to report all flare sightings and don't presume it is a Chinese lantern.
ENDS..
Sergeant Jason Homan
Orewa Police
09-426-4555 | 0274-410-672 | Å 09-427-9820
š jason.homan@police.govt.nz