TikToker captures people releasing lantern balloons on a California beach amid raging wildfires, sparking public anger and concern.
In a shocking incident, a TikToker captured a group of people releasing lantern balloons into the sky while wildfires raged in Los Angeles.
This event took place on a beach near Santa Barbara, where the woman went to relax after helping fire victims in the city.
TikToker captures reckless people releasing lantern balloons with lit candles near nature preserve as LA burns
The TikToker, who chose to remain anonymous, was stunned by the sight of the group launching “sky lanterns.”
The lanterns were released close to a nature preserve and residential areas.
The area was under a high fire risk warning, making their actions even more irresponsible.
She noticed that the group kept lighting more and more lanterns, sending them into the air without a care for the consequences.
“I was watching them just light these lanterns and putting them into the air. They just kept launching more and more,” she said.
The risk of sky lanterns
Sky lanterns are not just pretty decorations; they can be dangerous.
These lanterns can reach heights of up to 1,500 feet.
When they eventually come down, they can land on trees, roofs, or even dry grass, potentially starting new fires.
Given the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, the TikToker felt compelled to intervene.
The TikToker decided to confront reckless people
Concerned for safety, she and another bystander confronted the group.
Despite the serious situation, the party insisted they had a permit to launch the lanterns, which are illegal in California.
When the TikToker asked if they were aware of the wildfires burning in LA, she expressed her frustration, questioning their judgment.
“Have you even gone down to LA? Do you even know what’s happening?” the enraged TikToker fired back.
The TikToker felt deeply connected to wildfire victims.
The TikToker shared her own experience working with wildfire victims, which made the situation more personal for her.
She explained to the group that she had seen the destruction caused by the fires, with thousands of homes lost and many families forced to evacuate.
One man with her mentioned that his family was displaced from LA, adding to the urgency of the situation.
“The man who was confronting them with me, I didn’t get his name, but he told me he and his family were displaced from LA.
He said, ‘We’re sheltering up here. And now we see this?’” she recalled.
The group continued to downplay the risk, claiming it was safe to launch the lanterns because it was not windy.
Eventually, someone in the group suggested that the lanterns were part of a memorial service.
This claim did little to ease the TikToker’s concerns.
The TikToker calls police for help
Feeling overwhelmed by the group’s dismissive attitude, the TikToker decided to call 911.
She knew that the local authorities needed to be involved to stop the lantern-launching.
As she awaited help, she reflected on how unsettling it was to witness such carelessness, especially when she had been working closely with those affected by the fires.
“I was like, ‘I’m so sorry, but I’ve been going down to LA, I’ve been seeing the devastation, and I don’t want to start a fire here,’” said the woman, who lives in Santa Barbara.
When local authorities arrived, they quickly shut down the lantern release.
The TikToker felt a wave of relief that someone had taken action. However, the experience left her shaken.
She sought peace at the beach, but the incident reminded her of nearby devastation.
Social media reactions
Social media reactions to the TikToker’s video were mixed.
Many users expressed outrage at the group for their careless actions, urging others to be more responsible.
Others praised the TikToker for speaking up and taking action.
Authorities shut it Down ????? Everyone of them should have been Arrested and Prosecuted to the fullest extent of the LAW, one user said.
Please don’t let these people move to another state, the second user wrote.
Absolutely incomprehensible and negligent! The third user commented.
One fire a few years ago was started by a gender reveal party smoke bomb, so by LA standards, this is average IQ, another user said.
Sky lanterns using a flame are illegal. They are lying about the permit.
The FBI should investigate them and take names & fingerprints, and trace associations to any Leftist, Eco-terrorist, or Marxist groups, someone said.