ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque Fire Rescue crews stayed busy Monday morning, responding to three separate hot air balloon incidents across the city during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
The first call came from the 4000 block of Midtown NE, where a balloon envelope became stuck in a tree after landing. Firefighters arrived to find all occupants safely out of the gondola and uninjured. Crews used Ladder 13’s aerial equipment to remove the balloon envelope from the tree.
A second call sent crews to Graves Park near Cutler Avenue NW after reports of a balloon in a tree with the gondola suspended about 20 feet above the ground. When firefighters arrived, they determined the situation was a false alarm. Officials said the balloon had landed safely, and the crew was simply packing up the envelope.
The final incident occurred at Albuquerque High School, where a balloon landed safely but later became snagged on a scoreboard while the crew was packing equipment. Firefighters used ground ladders and other tools to free the envelope. No injuries were reported.
All three incidents ended without injuries, and AFR says crews continue to provide both on-site and off-site emergency support throughout Balloon Fiesta events.
