Local

Balloon causes temporary power outage in Kissimmee

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A balloon left at a grave in a cemetery knocked out power for almost 1,400 residents and businesses in Kissimmee Thursday afternoon, the Kissimmee Utility Authority reported.

The power outage started at 12:36 p.m., but all service was restored 20 minutes later, KUA said.

The balloon was tied to a floral arrangement that was left near a grave at Osceola Memory Gardens on Old Boggy Creek Road. The balloon made contact with the high-voltage power line, which affected 1,354 customers, KUA said.

After contact, the balloon caught fire and landed inside neighboring Rose Hill Cemetery, creating a small fire.

The KUA crews quickly put out the fire and prevented further damage to the property, KUA said.

KUA said helium-filled balloons made of Mylar, a metallic nylon substance, can often float into power lines which can cause power outages, downed lines and damaged equipment.

KUA recommends for anyone who leaves balloons for loved ones to follow safety rules for handling metallic balloons:

-- Be sure to secure a helium-filled balloon with a weight heavy enough to prevent it from drifting away.

-- Never bundle metallic balloons together.

-- Keep metallic balloons indoors and never release them outside.

-- Never attach metallic streamers to any balloon, whether it's latex or metallic.

-- Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon or any foreign object tangled in power lines. Instead, call KUA at 407-933-9898 to report the problem.