West Los Angeles residents found themselves in a sudden widespread power outage on Saturday after an unexpected interaction between celebratory objects and urban infrastructure. Nearly 2,200 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) customers, in both the Sawtelle and Westwood areas, lost electrical service due to the presence of metallic balloons that made contact with power lines, reported NBC Los Angeles.
The issue began in the early afternoon, and crews were dispatched to address and repair the damage. “LADWP crews are responding to a power outage in the West Los Angeles area caused by metallic balloons,” stated LADWP. The disruption stretched across local businesses and stopped traffic lights from functioning properly, from Wilshire Boulevard to Pico Boulevard in Westwood, an incident covered by FOX LA. This situation persisted, despite initial hopes for a faster resolution, leaving some residents powerless well into the evening.
Metallic, also known as mylar, balloons carry a conductive material that is not very much a friend to electrical infrastructure. “When metallic balloons, often called ‘mylar’ balloons, float into power lines, they can cause power outages. Their conductive material creates a short circuit when touching the energized line, disrupting the electrical flow,” explained LADWP in statements to CBS News Los Angeles. Recognition of such hazards has prompted the LADWP to advise customers on precautionary measures, including weighting down these balloons and keeping them away from power lines…