Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

18 hours ago

‘Freedom Week’: California Gun Owners Rush to Buy Ammo After Court Ruling

21 hours ago

Wall Street Selloff Sparked by Trump Tariffs, Amazon Results, Weak Payrolls

21 hours ago

US Construction Spending Extends Decline in June

21 hours ago

Global Shares in Red After US Jobs Data, Trump’s Tariff Salvo

21 hours ago

Construction of $200M Trump Ballroom at the White House to Begin in September

2 days ago

US Senate Committee Backs $1 Billion for Ukraine in Pentagon Spending Bill

2 days ago

Trump Says Mexico Trade Deal Extended for 90 Days

2 days ago

Fresno Unified Trustee Susan Wittrup Responds to $162,000 Payout

3 days ago
Spark Valentine's Romance With Balloons. Not Power Outages.
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 7 years ago on
February 12, 2018

Share

A list of favorite Valentine Day’s gift is likely to include flowers, chocolates, jewelry, lingerie and metallic balloons.
From that the list, only the balloons can cause widespread power outages.

When done with balloons, do not release them. Puncture them several times or cut the knot and throw them in the garbage to keep them from floating away.
In fact, according to the Pacific Gas & Electric Co., metallic balloons caused 456 power outages across PG&E’s service area in Northern and Central California last year. That’s an average of more than one daily.
Altogether, metallic balloons disrupted electric service to more than 371,000 homes and businesses. If that seems like a high number, it is. Contributing to the problem is the fact that, unlike latex helium balloons, metallic balloons can float for two to three weeks – posing a hazard to power lines and equipment long after being released outside.

Balloons Caused 14 Fresno Power Outages Last Year

PG&E says that the top five cities for metallic balloon-caused outages in 2017 were:

  1. San Jose: 25
  2. Fresno: 14
  3. Oakland: 11
  4. Bakersfield: 11
  5. San Francisco: 10

Moreover, balloon-caused outages are on the upswing. They caused 370 disruptions in 2015  and 429 in 2016, according to PG&E.

Safety Tips for Handling Metallic Balloons

The utility company provides the following safety tips for handling metallic balloons:

  • “Look Up and Live!” – Use caution and avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead electric lines.
  • Make sure helium-filled metallic balloons are securely tied to a weight that is heavy enough to prevent them from floating away. Never remove the weight.
  • When done with balloons, do not release them. Puncture them several times or cut the knot and throw them in the garbage to prevent them from floating away.
  • Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon — or any foreign object — tangled in power lines or inside a substation. Instead, call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem.
  • Never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Always assume downed electric lines are energized and extremely dangerous. Stay away, keep others away and immediately call 911 to alert the police and fire departments.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

US Judges Speak Out About Death Threats, ‘Swattings,’ and ‘Pizza Doxings’

DON'T MISS

It’s Raining Cash for Some 2026 Fresno City Council Hopefuls

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Finds E. Coli at Avocado Lake. Don’t Swim There

DON'T MISS

Trump Fires US Labor Department’s Statistical Leader After Weaker Than Expected Jobs Report

DON'T MISS

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

DON'T MISS

Trump Eyes Bringing Azerbaijan, Central Asian Nations Into Abraham Accords, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

DON'T MISS

Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved Near Russia

DON'T MISS

Fresno Councilmember Vang Accused of Conflict of Interest in Budget Vote

DON'T MISS

Ghislaine Maxwell Moved From Florida Prison to Lower-Security Facility

UP NEXT

Fresno County Finds E. Coli at Avocado Lake. Don’t Swim There

UP NEXT

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

UP NEXT

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

UP NEXT

Fresno Councilmember Vang Accused of Conflict of Interest in Budget Vote

UP NEXT

Ghislaine Maxwell Moved From Florida Prison to Lower-Security Facility

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Scott Oscar Whitehead

UP NEXT

Visalia Road Project to Temporarily Shut Down Part of Caldwell Avenue

UP NEXT

Fresno Fire Displaces Family of Three, Pets Rescued

UP NEXT

Measure C Advisory Group Still Squabbling but Agrees on Mission Statement

UP NEXT

Adopt Eevee and She’ll Bring Sunshine Into Your Life

Trump Fires US Labor Department’s Statistical Leader After Weaker Than Expected Jobs Report

17 hours ago

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

18 hours ago

Trump Eyes Bringing Azerbaijan, Central Asian Nations Into Abraham Accords, Sources Say

18 hours ago

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

19 hours ago

Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved Near Russia

19 hours ago

Fresno Councilmember Vang Accused of Conflict of Interest in Budget Vote

19 hours ago

Ghislaine Maxwell Moved From Florida Prison to Lower-Security Facility

19 hours ago

Trump Escalates Trade War With Canada Following Palestine Stance

20 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Scott Oscar Whitehead

21 hours ago

‘Freedom Week’: California Gun Owners Rush to Buy Ammo After Court Ruling

21 hours ago

US Judges Speak Out About Death Threats, ‘Swattings,’ and ‘Pizza Doxings’

United States judges spoke out against the unprecedented surge in violence and disturbing threats made against members of the judicial branc...

15 hours ago

United States judges speaking about receiving violent threats over rulings
15 hours ago

US Judges Speak Out About Death Threats, ‘Swattings,’ and ‘Pizza Doxings’

Fresno city hall with council campaign finance money
16 hours ago

It’s Raining Cash for Some 2026 Fresno City Council Hopefuls

E. coli identified at avocado lake
17 hours ago

Fresno County Finds E. Coli at Avocado Lake. Don’t Swim There

President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner with Republican Senators, in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 18, 2025. (Reuters File)
17 hours ago

Trump Fires US Labor Department’s Statistical Leader After Weaker Than Expected Jobs Report

Breaking News from Reuters
18 hours ago

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 31, 2025. (Reuters File)
18 hours ago

Trump Eyes Bringing Azerbaijan, Central Asian Nations Into Abraham Accords, Sources Say

19 hours ago

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

President Donald Trump speaks after disembarking Marine One, as he departs for Scotland, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., July 25, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
19 hours ago

Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved Near Russia

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend