2011年5月5日 星期四

Warning after lantern near miss

Warning after lantern near miss
FIRE bosses have issued a warning over the use of paper Chinese lanterns after one fell on a farm near Studley.

The lantern, which had been lit before landing on the farm in Mappleborough Green, fell just meters from stacks of hay and livestock and firefighters say while the farmer was lucky on this occasion had the wind been blowing in a different direction it could have led to a serious blaze.Compact fluorescent lights have solved LED lighting supplier many of the problems associated with traditional filament light bulbs.

The wire framed lanterns, which lift into the air with a lighted candle inside them, have become increasingly popular in recent years and are now used not only to celebrate Chinese New Year but also for parties and special occasions such as weddings.However, the marketing muscle of Philips led light lighting could give Philips LED business an advantage.

The problem is once lit there is no control over which direction the lantern travels in or where they will land which can be particularly dangerous in rural areas where farmers often store gas cylinders or hay which can catch light easily.

Jon Dixon, area risk manager for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This incident highlights the potential dangers faced when using paper Chinese lanterns.While SmartView has been slow DSTT and unstable in the past, it seems to have improved greatly with recent updates. On this occasion the farmer was lucky, but it could have been a very different story had the lantern landed on the bales of hay. Had a fire been started, it could put lives at risk and may have even killed livestock.

"We really don’t want to spoil people’s celebrations, but residents do need to be aware of the potential issues they could cause should a lantern land in the wrong place."

Rural watchdog the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is calling for the lanterns to be banned.Compact fluorescent light bulbs convert a led tube considerably higher percentage of their energy into light, which is why they are significantly more energy efficient than traditional filament bulbs.

Donna Tavernor,Unlike compact cfl bulbs fluorescent light bulbs, LED based light bulbs provide a variety of lighting options- including the ability to provide a wide range of light, which allows them to act as a proper replacement light bulb CLA regional adviser, said: "Chinese lanterns may be romantic and may look very pretty but people who propose to celebrate their marriage by sending them off into the sky should understand the potential fire and animal health threat they are releasing. "

People using lanterns are being urged not to light them near farm land, buildings with thatched roofs, areas of dense woodland or near materials which could catch fire, not in wind speeds above 5mph only in open spaces. If the lantern's paper catches fire it should be extinguished and discarded.

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