City councillor wants to see a ban on sk

City Councillor wants to see a ban on sky lanterns

May 14, 2019 | 12:55 AM

With the fire danger rating currently at moderate to high throughout much of the province, a Vernon city councillor wants the city to take another extra precaution when it comes to preventing wildfires.

Councillor Brian Quiring says he would like to see the city ban sky lanterns, which are also referred to as fire lanterns.

“They are going to be nasty during fire season,” said Quiring.

“You put a candle in it and it is a paper kind of a thing, and the heat from the candle makes it float and they can float all over the place, and it is just, if people are starting to use those in the Okanagan for fun, that’s going to be a problem,” he said.

Other communities have jumped on board to ban the use of fire lanterns in their area.

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The City of Kamloops currently prohibits the use of sky lanterns.

According to the city’s website anyone caught flying a sky lantern within city limits faces fines starting at $500.

The City of Saskatoon and Regina have similar bylaws in place prohibiting the use of the lanterns which are popular to use in Asian cultures.

In Kelowna, city bylaws don’t specifically mention sky lanterns as prohibited, but they do say they require a permit for the “use of open flames for display purposes,” and for anyone wanting to “start or permit a fire of any kind whatsoever in the open air.”

Councillor Akbal Mund offered to bring the suggestion of a ban to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee in order to make sure there is consistency among neighboring communities.

“If it floats like you say it does what’s the difference going to be if Vernon has a bylaw and the other three jurisdictions decide you know what it is just like a burning by-law, it just makes a difference,” he said.

Council will vote on a possible ban of the lanterns at a later council meeting.