Foil helium party balloon that touched power line sparked heatwave field fire that tore through a village and destroyed 2 homes
An investigation has found that a foil helium party balloon drifting into a power line was the likely cause of a fire that tore through fields and destroyed two homes in Kenninghall, Norfolk, during last month's heatwave. The blaze broke out on 9 August and spread within minutes to properties on Wood Close, prompting a large emergency response, though there were no serious injuries. The finding, from an independent investigator commissioned by UK Power Networks, contradicts the fire service's initial view that a faulty transformer was to blame, and has left affected residents questioning why such balloons remain in use.
Seven fire engines and a water carrier tackled the blaze, which was reported at 2.30pm and took around two hours to extinguish, leaving two bungalows destroyed and a third damaged. Resident Siobhan Fulcher, 54, lost her home of 12 years and is now in temporary accommodation with her son Aaron and their dogs; both described the fire spreading with terrifying speed, engulfing the house within minutes. UK Power Networks called the incident "rare" and confirmed no faults were found with its equipment, while a similar earlier incident this summer prompted Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue to warn against intentionally releasing foil balloons, which conduct electricity.
- Foil balloon on power line likely sparked Norfolk village fire
- Blaze destroyed two homes, damaged a third, on 9 August
- Contradicts earlier claim that a faulty transformer caused it
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Norfolk village Kenninghall was hit by a fast-moving fire on 9 August, during last month's heatwave, which spread from open fields into homes on Wood Close. Seven fire engines fought the blaze for around two hours, and while nobody was seriously hurt, two bungalows were destroyed and a third damaged, leaving residents such as Siobhan Fulcher without their homes.
At the time, the fire service's initial assessment pointed to a faulty transformer as the cause. UK Power Networks, the company responsible for the electricity network in the area, later commissioned an independent investigator to look into what actually happened.
Foil helium balloons, often used at parties, are made from a metallic material that can conduct electricity, meaning they can cause damage or sparks if they drift into overhead power lines. Such incidents have prompted warnings from fire services elsewhere in England this summer, feeding into wider questions about the safety of releasing these balloons outdoors.