Under the recent changes of the Fire Service Act, permits will be required for indoor performances involving fire, as well as the release of sky lanterns.

Upon hearing the news, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Folk Culture Development Association is asking the government to make an exception by establishing the location as a designated area for sky lanterns, in hope to prevent the new regulation from affecting local tourism.

Five years ago, around the Lantern Festival a number of sky lanterns suddenly drifted into the Taoyuan International Airport and started an instant turf fire.

The Taoyuan Fire Department sent 16 fire engines to fight the blaze, and the airport runway was engulfed in fire, freezing aircraft take offs and landings.

The airport was forced to close for a half an hour.

The same day, the Central Second Highway at Chunan experienced an accident also from sky lanterns that suddenly flashed in front of a car which flipped over.

Sky lanterns have caused repeated trouble over the years, and a new amendment to the Fire Services Act means that competent authorities need to apply for permits otherwise they will be fined between 30,000 to 150,000 NT$.

Upon hearing this news, the Pingxi area, which is famous for sky lanterns, hopes to gain a special designation making it able to release sky lanterns year round.

The New Taipei City Fire Department said it would consider local industries and the Tourism Bureau to better manage this new regulation.

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Folk Culture Development Association, stressed Pingxi is the birthplace of sky lanterns with a 200-year history.

The local terrain, coupled with high humidity and stable air flow makes it safe to release sky lanterns.

They hoped the government would take these considerations into account when applying this new law.