OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha City Council is scheduled to vote next week on a proposal to ban flying lanterns.

The proposed ordinance would ban the sale and possession of the lanterns and impose fines of up to $200 on violators. The lanterns are small paper air balloons powered by a flame.

Mayor Jean Stothert (STAH’-thurt) is backing the ban proposed by Fire Chief Bernie Kanger. He has said the lanterns are a fire hazard because they can land on rooftops, fields or wooded areas without people noticing.

Omaha Police Department Lt. Mike Davis says the lanterns also pose a threat to the police helicopter. Davis says that if a lantern were to clog the helicopter’s engine air intake, “the engine’s going to quit and we are coming down.”