Kaleb Cooper, who has become famous since appearing on the Amazon Prime show alongside Jeremy Clarkson, took to social media to share the warning
Kaleb Cooper, a familiar face from Clarkson’s Farm, has criticised individuals for releasing Chinese lanterns into the Cotswolds countryside amid a heatwave.
The farming contractor urgently contacted emergency services yesterday upon spotting the lanterns, which are known to pose a significant wildfire risk according to fire services.
The Oxfordshire native and breakout star of the show with Jeremy Clarkson took to social media on Saturday (July 12) to voice his concerns.
In an Instagram post titled “what is going on in the world” Kaleb shared a video message.
Although the video mainly showed a shadowy figure, it included Kaleb speaking directly to the camera, expressing his disbelief: “I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing at the moment.”
He continued, revealing his immediate action: “I’ve just called this in to 999 but someone has felt the need to light two Chinese lanterns in and around the Chipping Norton area.
“They are currently floating over the area. I’m looking at both of them as we speak right now.”
Kaleb then questioned the rationale behind such actions during dangerous weather conditions: “But what goes through someone’s mind when they decide to light two Chinese lanterns in the middle of a heatwave.
“We’ve hardly had any rain since March. Jesus, honestly. What’s going on with the world,” reports Gloucestershire Live.
His followers quickly echoed his sentiments in the comments section.
One follower emphasised the need for awareness: “People need educating mate. Spread the message.”
Another supporter agreed with Kaleb’s warning: “Well said Kaleb, this could quite easily start a wild fire.”
A third individual expressed concern saying: “Some people really don’t have a clue. The farmer’s field next to mine is that dry I can literally put my whole hand down the cracks of the soil.”
Meanwhile, another added their voice to the chorus of concerns: “They should never do this for any celebration. They let some of these off for a wedding near me. They set fire to someone’s house and barn when they landed. Plus livestock can ingest them when they land. It’s like balloon releases. It’s littering, pure and simple. Should be banned.”
On its website, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service offers advice about sky lanterns, describing them: “Sky lanterns are a beautiful sight – but the potential damage they can cause is significant.
“They use the heat of a naked flame to float. They’re not only a fire hazard but also a danger to livestock, agriculture, camping activities, thatched properties and hazardous material sites.
“Whilst ignition and launch are mostly in the control of the user, the actual flight path and end destination are not. There’s no guarantee the fuel cell will be completely out and cooled when the lantern lands, so any contact with a flammable surface could start a fire.
“There’s evidence of them causing fires, wasting police time, being mistaken for distress flares, misleading aircraft and killing livestock.”
Clarkson’s Farm is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
