Stray Chinese lantern causes shed fire in Weymouth on Christmas Day

A CHINESE Lantern caused a fire which ignited two garden sheds and a fence on Christmas Day.

Now, Dorset Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) has urged members of the public not to use the lanterns during the festive and New Year celebrations due to their volatility.

Firefighters were called to Preston Road in Overcombe just after 7pm after a member of the public reported that their shed was on fire.

Two crews from Weymouth attended the incident, and used two hose reel jets to extinguish the fire, which had engulfed two sheds and an area of fencing by the time firefighters arrived.

Anne Newell, watch manager for DFRS and incident commander, said: Two sheds were damaged by fire including an area of fencing. The cause was a stray chinese lantern.

Now, the service is urging members of the public not to use the lanterns during festive and New Year celebrations due to their risk.

Dave Allen, Community Safety Advisor at DFRS, also attended the scene and said: We recommend that members of the public do not use Chinese lanterns.

Due to their volatility they can stray and pose a fire risk to members of the public, property and animals."

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service will be revisiting the area to provide community safety advice in the coming days.

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Stray Chinese lantern causes shed fire in Weymouth on Christmas Day