I used to carry some "retired" (but still usable) maritime flares in my rucksack, until I tried one (over the river, on july 14th, our national day). It make a whooop, rocket like, in the air, and two bright red stars came on, and came down..... safely in water...
I then asked myself if it was wise to use these flares in a forest area .... ??
and removed them from my rucksack.
I will launch the last ones, next july, 14th.... over water.
Or maybe on january, 1st 2004.
... just to get rid of them all.

Alain