A safety warning has been issued after a foil balloon drifted into overhead power lines sparking a field fire.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to Bingham Road, Tithby, shortly before 7pm on Friday (August 7), where a farmer’s field was alight.
Firefighters used hose reel jets and beaters to put out the blaze, which was believed to have been caused by a foil party balloon coming into contact with electricity cables.
Field fire in Tithby caused by a foil balloon coming into contact with overhead powerlines. Photo: National Grid.
This contact caused sparks, which then set fire to dry vegetation in the field below.
National Grid stated that 271 customers experienced a brief interruption to their power supply while engineers made the line safe.
Field fire in Tithby caused by a foil balloon coming into contact with overhead powerlines. Photo: National Grid.
A National Grid spokesperson said: “Foil balloons are coated in a thin layer of metal, and metal conducts electricity.
“When one gets caught on an overhead line, it can create a path for that electricity to travel where it shouldn’t, causing sparks. In dry conditions, near crops or farmland, that’s enough to start a fire within seconds.
“This is why we’re asking everyone to think twice before releasing a balloon.”
Field fire in Tithby caused by a foil balloon coming into contact with overhead powerlines. Photo: National Grid.
They added: “If you spot a balloon caught in power lines, stay well clear. Never try to retrieve it yourself. Call us on 105 and we’ll deal with it safely.
“A moment’s celebration shouldn’t cost a farmer their field.”