Kaleb Cooper, the popular farming contractor featured in the hit series Clarkson’s Farm, has taken to social media to raise urgent awareness after spotting sky lanterns drifting over the Cotswolds during an extreme heatwave. Concerned by the wildfire risks associated with these lanterns, Kaleb made an immediate emergency call to 999.
On July 12th, Kaleb, who has gained widespread recognition through the documentary alongside Jeremy Clarkson, shared a heartfelt video message on Instagram. Though the video only showed a dim outline, his words conveyed disbelief: “I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing at the moment. I’ve just called this in to 999—someone has lit two Chinese lanterns flying over the Chipping Norton area. We’ve had very little rain since March, and lighting lanterns now is unbelievably risky.”
His post struck a chord with his nearly 3 million followers, with many echoing his concerns. Comments ranged from calls for better public education to warnings about the potential for devastating wildfires. One follower lamented, “The farmer’s field next to mine is so dry you could put your whole hand down the soil cracks.” Others highlighted past incidents where lanterns caused property fires and harmed livestock, likening them to harmful littering practices such as balloon releases and calling for bans.
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Local authorities, including Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, have issued warnings about the dangers of sky lanterns. Their guidance emphasizes that while lanterns may look beautiful, they pose significant fire hazards. Lanterns float by the heat of an exposed flame, and users cannot control their flight path or landing spot. This uncertainty means fuel cells may still be burning upon landing, potentially sparking fires on dry fields, thatched roofs, or near hazardous materials.
The fire service also notes that sky lanterns have led to fires, wasted emergency resources, confused distress signals, and even killed livestock. In a time of heightened fire risk due to prolonged drought and soaring temperatures, such risks could have catastrophic consequences for rural communities and the environment.
Kaleb Cooper’s urgent message serves as a timely reminder: during drought and heatwave conditions, lighting sky lanterns is both reckless and dangerous. Community awareness and responsible behavior are critical to preventing avoidable fires and protecting the beautiful countryside.