Released sky lanterns remind people of extreme fire conditions

PLAINS – On Monday, August 19 two sky lanterns landed on the forested land of the P-hill in Plains. The sky lanterns are structures designed with a thin paper shell and either a suspended candle ignites a fuel source or a fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material – essentially having an exposed flame.

Although, these lanterns are not illegal, officials would like to remind the public that using a structure such as this in a time of extreme fire danger is not a safe or responsible thing to do.

“Local fire managers want to remind those who are considering their use that, if a sky lantern is the cause of a fire and the person(s) responsible for the launch can be determined in an investigation, criminal charges and the costs of suppression could be levied,” said a press release from the DNRC.

The press release stated that people need to realize any activity that carries a potential to ignite a fire “should be undertaken with the knowledge that fires will spread rapidly out of control and should be reconsidered or stopped before it starts.”

With the wildfire season in full swing, firefighting resources are spread thin across Montana and throughout the nation. With local lightning in the forecast, Sanders County had a level four lightening warning, indicating that lightning was very likely up until Wednesday, August 28.

“Firefighters have enough work ahead of them without having to be concerned with such a preventable threat,” said the press release.

The sky lanterns were being sold at a local business in Plains and officials asked the business to remove the item from the shelves until the local fire danger was no longer a threat.

The public is encouraged to remember that stage one fire restrictions are in place.

These restrictions mean that building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire is prohibited unless the site is posted with specific exemptions.

Smoking is also prohibited unless it is in an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site, or an area three feet in diameter cleared of all flammable materials.

If a violation of these acts occur, the person responsible could be fined up to $5,000 individually or $10,000 for an organization and imprisonment up to six months could occur for violating restrictions and closures.

Responsible persons can also be held liable for all suppression costs and damages if a fire is started.

According to the Northern Rockies Coordinating Group, the purpose of fire restrictions is to help reduce the risk and number of human-caused fires during times of unusually high fire danger and/or burning conditions.

Fire prevention specialist, John Hamilton, added that in these times of extreme dryness, people should not operate machinery, such as chainsaws, in the brush during the heat of the day. Also, it is important to keep your vehicle out of dry weeds because the hot exhaust could easily begin a fire.

The public is encouraged to use caution in or around forested areas.