No More Sky Lanterns In Oregon After December 31st. Bummer!

To some they're called Chinese Lanterns, others luminaries, or wish lanterns, or paper balloons. Regardless, these timeless and popular aerial sights will be illegal in Oregon starting January 1st.

On one hand, we can understand officials concerns over these aerial flaming spectacles. But it's disappointing they're going away.

Luminaries, as we will call them, are paper or lightweight cardboard bags or containers that have a candle or other flame attached at the bottom, with spacers to prevent the flame from igniting the bag.  Upon lighting, they act like a miniature hot air balloon, rising into the sky and providing a beautiful spectacle.

Many of them are colored and decorated so as they rise, they give off a multi-faceted glow. They're especially popular in China, where remarkable luminaries are sent up.

But because of fire concerns, they will now be banned in Oregon starting New Year's Day.  According to Oregon fire officials, including Chief Deputy State Fire Marshall Mariana Ruiz-Temple:

"Although they are pretty, sky lanterns are uncontrolled, open-flamed devices that pose an extreme fire hazard to people, property, and the environment. Once released you have no control over where they may land. They could end up on someone's rooftop, in a tree, or a pile of debris and cause an unwanted fire."

29 states have banned them over the years, as have the countries of Germany, Australia and Brazil.  They're banned in WA and Idaho. According to the website wildfiretoday.com, and the Anchorage Daily News, in 2014, airplanes at an airfield near town had to be briefly re-routed due to dozens of luminaries that were released during a community celebration.

But many will be disappointed about them going away for good in Oregon. By the way, if you do launch one in Oregon, and are caught, it's going to be a $2,000 fine.  Bummer!