07/03/2026
An important message to pass along!
Call them what you will—Chinese lanterns, sky lanterns, paper lanterns, or luminaries.
They might look beautiful floating into the night sky, but they are an uncontrolled fire hazard.
Sky Lanterns Are ILLEGAL in Michigan
Many people do not realize that under the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, it is illegal to ignite and launch sky lanterns anywhere in the state. Because they are uncontrolled open flames, they pose an immediate threat to life and property.
Why They Are a Real Threat To Our Community:
Uncontrolled Flames: You are lighting a fire and letting the wind carry it wherever it wants. Long Burn Times: These lanterns can stay airborne and lit for 10 to 30 minutes.
Massive Range: The danger isn't just in your yard. Wind can carry them 10 to 20 miles away into neighboring towns.
Local History: We know the danger firsthand. In the summer of 2015, a sky lantern landed right in our own fire station's landscaping and caught fire.
Property & Wildlife Damage: They frequently land on dry rooftops, in brown vegetation, or in farmers' fields where the leftover wire and bamboo frames choke and kill local livestock.
Before you light a sky lantern, think about where it will come down. Think about the young family with a baby sleeping in a crib downwind, or the retired couple whose home is at risk just because a floating flame "looks pretty" and remember... Tangled is just a movie.
Thank you, and please stay safe!