Sometimes, things that seem like common sense just aren't for some people.
For example, take the latest fireworks-type item that has raised concerns with the province's fire commissioner.
The item in question is the flying lantern or sky lantern. The lanterns are made of rice paper and look like a small hot-air balloon propelled by a candle flame. The lanterns are allowed to soar upwards in the wind, lighting up the night sky. In theory, they are supposed to stay airborne until the flame burns out, but that doesn't always happen.
What sometimes results is an unattended fire, allowed to burn as long as it wants. No one would ever want to leave an uncontained flame just burning away in his or her home. He or she would just be asking for trouble.
Also, unattended fires are the scourge of any forestry official.
But here we have people just sending fire into the sky, like some potentially destructive message in a bottle, with the hopes the flames will burn out themselves.
Unfortunately, that isn't always the case.
As Fire Commissioner Duane McKay has indicated, there have been three small wildfires in northern Saskatchewan that can be blamed on these devices.
With no control once the lanterns are put into the air, they can drift into trees, land on a roof or carry the flame to other dangerous places.
Yes, fire in the sky can be beautiful but people should use common sense and realize that preventing fires of any kind is more important than a few, fleeting oohs and ahhs.
