FIREFIGHTERS and the Scottish SPCA are urging people not to let off sky lanterns in a show of solidarity for NHS workers.

A campaign encouraging people to light the sky lanterns from gardens and driveways in support of the NHS follows on the heels of the popular #ClapForOurCarers social media campaign.

However, both the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the Scottish SPCA are encouraging people to stay away from the campaign.

Alasdair Perry, SFRS deputy assistant chief officer, said: “We fully appreciate that people want to show their support for the NHS, however we must discourage the lighting of sky lanterns.

“These lanterns may look striking when lit, but when released they pose a significant threat of fire and can have devastating consequences – for rural environments, property and wildlife.

“This is clearly a challenging time for the emergency services due to COVID-19, and while the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service maintains a high resilience across Scotland, we would seek to avoid any unnecessary demand on our service so we can target our resources most effectively in supporting our partners and meeting the needs of Scotland’s communities.

“Traditionally, this is a period when we see a high volume of large wildfires in Scotland, due to a build-up of dead vegetation in our countryside, and rising temperatures.

“We can’t risk adding a potential ignition to that mix.

“While I fully understand people wanting to show their support to the NHS, I would encourage people to find a different way to do this.”

Scotland’s animal welfare charity – Scottish SPCA – has also spoken out about the dangers of sky lanterns and how they can have a devastating impact on animals.

The Scottish SPCA knows of examples where farm animals have been injured or killed by swallowing fragments from sky lanterns.

The lanterns may start fires when they land, which can endanger wildlife and their habitats.

Birds can also collide and get entangled with the lanterns, making it impossible to fly and killing them.

Mike Flynn, Scottish SPCA chief superintendent, said: “Sky lanterns put pets, wildlife and farm animals at risk of serious injury or even death.

“Lanterns may seem like a nice gesture and many people are likely unaware of the damage they can do.

“However, lanterns pose a serious threat to all sorts of animals and once they land they become litter.

“Animals can be caught up in the debris and get trapped.

“Even if they escape, these animals can get hurt in the process of doing so.

“Every single person in the Scottish SPCA fully supports the NHS and recognises the incredible effort they are making just now.

“We have so much respect and admiration for them.

“There’s lots of ways people can support our phenomenal NHS at the moment and we’d urge everyone to celebrate it in a way which poses less risk to animals and the environment.”

If anyone is concerned about an animal being injured by a sky lantern, they are being advised to phone the Scottish SPCA’s animal helpline on 03000 999 999.