Are Sky Lanterns legal in California?

I don't know any state law that would be violated by just owning one, but as a resident of a fire prone area (as is much of California) that thing scares the hell out of me. You say the device would not "come down" while still burning, but even if that were true it could easily drift into a tree or brush-covered mountainside with grave, possibly fatal consequences. If use of this device resulted in the burning of anything you did not own, even if you did not intend that to happen, it would be at the least a violation of Penal Code section 452 (reckless burning), which could result in up to a year in jail. Releasing it could also very likely violate local ordinances concerning open fires. For your sake and ours, please forget about this!