A foil balloon became caught in an overhead power line and sparked a fire in a farmer’s field near Tithby, Nottinghamshire.
The balloon made contact with the electricity line, causing sparks that ignited the field during the dry conditions.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the blaze, while 271 customers experienced a brief interruption to their electricity supply as engineers made the line safe.
Foil balloons are coated with a thin layer of metal that conducts electricity. If one becomes caught on an overhead line, it can cause electricity to travel where it should not, producing sparks and potentially starting a fire within seconds.
Midlands Farmers shared details of the incident to demonstrate the dangers of releasing balloons, particularly near crops and farmland during periods of hot and dry weather.
People who see a balloon caught in power lines are being warned to remain well clear and never attempt to retrieve it themselves. The incident should instead be reported by calling the electricity emergency number on 105.
In its warning, Midlands Farmers said: “A moment’s celebration shouldn’t cost a farmer their field.”
It thanked Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service for its response and the farmer for allowing photographs and details of the incident to be shared.
