Firefighters put out Tanglewood vegetation fire
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Firefighters responded to a small vegetation fire in Santa Maria late Tuesday morning.
The fire was first reported around 10:40 a.m on the 1900 block of Sandalwood Drive by Arellanes Elementary School.
Power lines were knocked down and dozens of Pacific Gas & Electric customers were without power. Power was expected to be restored by 12:30 p.m. but was later pushed back to 2 p.m. as more than 350 customers eventually lost power.
Fire crews were able to get the fire under control around 11:20 a.m.
The fire burned about a quarter of an acre, Santa Barbara County Fire Captain Daniel Bertucelli said.
PG&E investigators say it appears the fire was sparked by a mylar balloon making contact with power lines. Mylar balloons are a frequent cause of damage to electrical equipment which can spark fires.
PG&E says mylar balloons can cause significant damage to the electrical system, and anyone who purchases these metallic balloons should be aware of where power lines are located. Balloons should not be released near power lines and should be anchored to something on the ground.
