Balloons Blamed For Triggering Power Outage In South L.A.
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Wayward balloons are blamed for triggering a power outage Monday, leaving more than 5,000 Southern California Edison customers in South Los Angeles without electricity.
SCE spokesman Paul Griffo said the outage happened around 4:30 p.m. when metallic balloons got tangled in some elevated distribution lines.
Crews were still working to return power to 5,059 homes as of 9 p.m. Power is expected to be restored by 6 a.m. Tuesday, Griffo estimated.
Metallic balloons caused 924 power outages last year for SCE, according to the utility.
Metallic balloons always need to be tied to a weight, as required by California law.
Edison warns never tie a metallic balloon to a child's wrist. If the balloon comes in contact with the service drop to a home or other source of electricity, it can travel through the balloon and into the child, causing serious injury or death.
SCE suggests disposing a metallic balloon by puncturing it several times and throwing it in the trash. Do not release it.