Vernon Fire Rescue Services are reminding residents across the Central Okanagan that sky lanterns are illegal.

The warning comes after a rogue sky lantern sparked a dangerous grassfire a short distance from homes in Vernon’s Foothills subdivision.

According to officials, crews responded to the 20×30 foot blaze in a ravine near Copper Mountain Court.

Thankfully, the fire was quickly extinguished as there were multiple comes within a short distance on the fire. 

Photo Credit: Contributed.

“Sky lanterns are an uncontrollable fire hazard. Once lit, they can travel over 2km,” said the City of Vernon in a release.

“They have been responsible for large fires in both urban and wildland settings.”

Fines for releasing a sky lantern in the central Okanagan start at $500 per lantern and a person found responsible for starting a fire may be subject to much larger fines.