State: Unattended flying lanterns are illegal

    KEUKA LAKE—The Steuben County Undersheriff Ray Dell said that unattended “sky lanterns” are illegal, according to the New York Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
    Dell brought up the topic at the annual Keuka Lake Association meeting at Keuka College, Saturday, July 14. Dell said people who light and let the lanterns fly into the air are liable for any damages the lanterns cause upon returning to land. He added if the lanterns are not retrieved it is also littering.
    According to the office of fire prevention, the sky lanterns meet the definition of recreational fires, as defined in Section 302.1 of the fire code and require constant surveillance. A recreational fire is defined as materials burning outdoors and not contained. The fire can be for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes. Dell said on the Fourth of July he personally recovered two lanterns from the Bluff. He suggested that if someone does want to release a lantern it must be tethered to the ground so it cannot float off.
    Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike said his concern is who will enforce the lanterns being an open burn. He said code enforcement officers handle fire code violations. He added it is difficult to determine who has released a lantern once it is in the air.
    In other business:
    • Spike reported that the department certified around 200 people in boater safety last year. He said more and more people attending the class are adults. Marine Patrol Sergeant Ed Nemitz said the county will participate in a one-day campaign Aug. 9 to get more people to wear life jackets. He said it would would be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Keuka Lake State Park.
    • Wayne Hand reported about the lake system. He said Keuka ultimately provides four percent of the water that flows into Lake Ontario. He also said the system that updates the lake level from the water plant to the KLA’s website has been having problems in the last week. Hand explained sometimes the information is unable to be sent through the phone lines.
    • Students Michael Quade and Sean Murphy were recognized for each receiving $1,000 scholarships from the KLA.
    • Signs will be placed at boat launches across Yates County warning boaters about preventing the spread of the invasive plant species, hydrilla.