FIRE chiefs have urged members of the public in Helensburgh and Lomond not to light sky lanterns in a show of solidarity for NHS workers.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has warned it could place “unnecessary pressure” on the emergency services.
And concerns have also been expressed by the Scottish SPCA, which is worried the practice could have a “devastating impact” on animals.
The charities’ call comes days after the SFRS stressed that Scotland’s countryside is currently “vulnerable” to wildfire.
That was illustrated by a grass fire which broke out in the Kilpatrick Hills on Monday evening; at its height the blaze required the presence of 30 firefighters, six fire appliances and a helicopter.
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.”
A ban on the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons from land and property owned by Argyll and Bute Council has been in place since January 2017, though the practice is still legal on private land.
The Scottish SPCA says it knows of examples where farm animals have been injured or killed by swallowing fragments from sky lanterns.
Even if animals are not directly killed or badly hurt, fires set off by lanterns landing can endanger wildlife and their habitats.
Mike Flynn, Scottish SPCA chief superintendent, added: “Sky lanterns put pets, wildlife and farm animals at risk of serious injury or even death.
“Lanterns may seem like a nice gesture and many people are likely unaware of the damage they can do.
LATEST HEADLINES: Rhu neighbours raise cash for NHS heroes in one-day 'ultra marathon'
“However, lanterns pose a serious threat to all sorts of animals and once they land they become litter.
“Animals can be caught up in the debris and get trapped. Even if they escape, these animals can get hurt in the process of doing so.
“Every single person in the Scottish SPCA fully supports the NHS and recognises the incredible effort they are making just now. We have so much respect and admiration for them.
“There’s lots of ways people can support our phenomenal NHS at the moment and we’d urge everyone to celebrate it in a way which poses less risk to animals and the environment.”
If anyone is concerned about an animal being injured by a sky lantern, they can call the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline on 03000 999 999.
READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest stories from across Helensburgh and Lomond here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here