Flying Sky Lanterns Now Banned In Essex

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The Town of Essex has become the second municipality locally to ban flying lanterns.

Flying lanterns, also known as sky lanterns, are small, paper, hot-air balloons that can lift to great heights when a heat source at the base of the lantern is ignited. Once released, there is no control over where the lantern travels or where it will land.

In early August, Essex Fire Chief Ed Pillon recommended that Council ban the sale and use of flying lanterns.

“The lanterns can burn for a considerable amount of time and there have been one or two instances throughout Essex County, as well as many across the province, where the burning lanterns landed in trees, on structures or near combustible materials,” said Pillon.

Essex Town Council passed an amendment to the Fireworks by-law at Tuesday night’s town meeting that will ban both the sale and use of flying lanterns.

A violation of the by-law will result in a fine of up to $100.

Kingsville also banned flying lanterns earlier this year.