Amazing how hard it is to find an account of an actual event, isn't it.
Ever look inside an old-style flashbulb, where a tangle of fine wires takes the place of a conventional incandescent bulb's filament? That's what you'd have if a metalized balloon were to somehow bridge the hot and ground conductors on a high-tension power line. The event would last about as long, and the power company wouldn't even notice it.
(Interestingly it is possible to attack power transmission facilities by dumping bundles of carbon filaments all over them ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite_bomb ). But you're not going to do any damage with a couple of party balloons.)
"If brushfire risk is even a consideration, it would be best to follow the published “Energy Safe” guidelines which indicate that reclosing should be turned off when the fire risk is high."[1]
Reclosing works best when the main problem is lightning. But this is in California. Dry climate, high fire risk most of the year, multiple huge fires started by power line contact in recent years, and not much lightning. PG&E is gradually moving to underground cables where lines can't be well clear of trees, and is now much more aggressive about tree trimming. Compare Florida, with high humidity and many lightning strikes. There, reclosing is a big win, since most trips are from lightning.
https://web.archive.org/web/20120721050712/http://latimesblo...