Paul Bass Photo
Downed wire at Whalley and Winthrop.
A balloon flew into electrical wires on Whalley Avenue Sunday — and caused a power outage that temporarily closed blocks worth of businesses.
Richard Furlow Photo
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. at Whalley and Winthrop, leading power to go out for blocks in all directions.
A mylar balloon got into the wires, reported city emergency management chief Rick Fontana. “The metallic base of the balloon caused a short circuit and power surge when it came into contact with the energized feeder.”
Beaver Hills Alder Richard Furlow was on scene. He took the photograph at right of the fire on the wire.
Furlow also complimented the fire department for arriving quickly and securing the scene.
Paul Bass Photo
Fire Lt. Ernest Jones Jr. (pictured) and other firefighters and police officers blocked off several intersections and rerouted traffic. Meanwhile UI sent in a crew.
Ladle & Loaf, New York Style Deli, restaurants along the avenue, and Edge of the Woods Market and other businesses in the Edge plaza shut down and customers left without completing purchases.
Update: By 3:49 p.m., all but 300 of the 2,150 customers who had lost power now had it restored, Fontana reported. He expected the rest of the power to be restored soon.