Balloon blamed for $100,000 in damage in Wynwood District

A fire on early Tuesday morning at Harold Golen Gallery in Miami is likely the result of an explosion caused by, of all things, an advertising balloon.

The gallery, located at 2921 NW Sixth Ave. – in the extremely popular Wynwood Art District – likely caught fire after a rope tied to an advertising balloon that was soaring above the gallery wore through the electrical insulation, which caused the circuit breaker in the gallery’s storage room to ignite. The fire then consumed several pieces of artwork. Windy conditions likely contributed to the excessive friction between the electrical insulation and the rope attached to the advertising balloon.

When everything was said and done, approximately $100,000 worth of art work was destroyed, in addition to several other paintings that sustained smoke damage, which can be restored, according to Ignatius Carroll, a spokesperson for Miami Fire Rescue.

No other damage has been reported, and luckily, only artwork was lost in the blaze.

Via The Miami Herald