:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/REPPBK3LLZEAJKD6KNCEEPNIP4.jpeg "A hot air balloon lost control and sparked a forest fire after colliding with power lines")
Forest fire sparked by hot air balloon collision with power line in Rochester
A hot air balloon collided with a power line in Rochester, Minnesota, causing a small fire on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred around 6:50 p.m. when a gust of wind pushed the balloon into the power line as the pilot was attempting to land in a field. The crash resulted in an electrical explosion and a small fire, but the three occupants of the balloon managed to escape with minor injuries.
A Minnesota Department of Transportation traffic camera captured the moment the balloon collided with the power line, causing sparks to fly as the basket detached and fell to the ground from a height of about 9 meters. The balloon then rose and moved away from the scene of the incident.
The collision of the hot air balloon with the power line caused a burst of sparks that ignited a small forest fire. Fortunately, the occupants of the balloon suffered only minor injuries and were able to escape unscathed. The Rochester Fire Department quickly responded to the scene to contain and extinguish the wildfire.
The hot air balloon, after detaching from its basket, drifted southeast before ultimately being recovered several kilometers away from the crash site. This incident highlights the challenges of controlling hot air balloons in adverse wind or weather conditions.
Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations to determine the exact causes of the accident and to assess additional safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The ballooning community and authorities are working together to ensure the safety of participants and communities near balloon operation areas.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of establishing clear safety procedures and preventive measures in the growing recreational activity of hot air ballooning. Safety experts emphasize the priority of safety in all aspects of aviation, including hot air balloon flights, and are working to understand and mitigate potential risks for safer adventures in the sky.
As investigations continue, the authorities and the ballooning community are committed to improving safety measures to prevent accidents like the one that occurred in Rochester.