A TikToker filmed a group launching lantern balloons as wildfires rage in LA, raising concerns about safety and legality.
She was just trying to relax at a beach near Santa Barbara after helping fire victims when she stumbled upon this scene. It was shocking to see people partying and sending up these lanterns so close to a campground and homes, especially in a high fire risk area.
In her video, you can see them lighting up the sky with these fire lanterns. They claimed they had a permit, but those things are illegal in California. The TikToker was stunned as she watched them keep launching more and more.
Sky lanterns can fly really high, up to 1,500 feet, and they can land anywhere, potentially starting fires. So, when she saw one drifting toward the mountains, she knew she had to step in.
She and another bystander confronted the group, who insisted it was safe because it wasn’t windy. The TikToker fired back, asking if they even knew what was happening in LA. She explained how she had been working with wildfire victims, and it was heartbreaking to see this happening.
One guy with her mentioned he and his family were displaced from LA, which made the situation even more intense. Eventually, someone in the group said the lanterns were for a memorial service, but that didn’t sit well with her.
She told them she didn’t want to start a fire, especially after seeing the devastation in LA. When the group got more aggressive, she decided to call 911. Thankfully, local authorities showed up and put a stop to the lantern launching.
The whole experience shook her up. She said seeing the destruction in LA was devastating, and she thought she’d be safe at the beach, but now she felt uneasy.
