The uses of sky lanterns or related devices are a violation of the Colorado Springs Fire Code and thus are not permitted to be used within Colorado Springs city limits.
Sky lanterns (also known as Kongming lanterns, wish lanterns, Chinese lanterns, sky candles or aerial luminaries) are an unmanned device with a fuel source that incorporates an open flame to make the device airborne.
Sky lanterns resemble small hot air balloons and are typically constructed of a paper shell on a lightweight frame which holds a fuel cell, typically comprised of a small candle or other waxy flammable materials. The fuel cell is lit, and the resulting open flame fills the paper shell with hot air causing the lantern to become airborne.
These devices have been known to travel great distances from the point of release which poses a serious fire and safety hazard due to the potential of starting unintended fires in populated or unpopulated areas.
Applicable Fire Code Sections
- Sky lanterns. A person shall not release or cause to be released an untethered sky lantern.
- Attendance. Open burning, bonfires, recreational fires, and use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended by a minimum of one alert, ambulatory, unimpaired, responsible adult until the fire is extinguished. Required constant attendance is not possible when sky lanterns are released into the air.
- Throwing or placing sources of ignition. A person shall not throw or place, or cause to be thrown or placed, a lighted match, cigar, cigarette, matches, or other flaming or glowing substance or object on any surface or article where it can cause an unwanted fire. There is no way to ensure the lit fuel cell will not cause an unwanted fire when the sky lanterns are released into the air.
- Location near combustibles. Open flames such as from candles, lanterns, kerosene heaters and gas-fired heaters shall not be located on or near decorative material or similar combustible materials. There is no way to ensure where sky lanterns will land and where or not, they will land on combustible or non-combustible materials.
- Open-flame devices. Torches and other devices, machines or processes liable to start or cause fire shall not be operated or used in or upon wildfire risk areas, except by a permit in accordance with Section 105.6 secured from the fire code official. There is no way to ensure that sky lanterns will not land in or on public and/or private wildland areas that have a significant wildfire risk potential.
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