Three Balloon Calls During Albuquerque Fiesta

During Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta, which opened Oct. 3, Albuquerque Fire Rescue responded to three hot-air-balloon calls on Monday. One balloon envelope was caught in a tree, a second reported tree incident turned out to be a safe landing, and a balloon being packed up at Albuquerque High School snagged on a scoreboard; no one was injured, and crews freed the envelopes. The festival’s opening weekend featured balloons launching across the city and families watching landings, including at Vista Del Norte Park, with clear, warm weather supporting favorable flying conditions. Before the festival, nearly 200 pilots took part in the annual Balloons Aloft tradition, bringing balloons to more than 80 elementary schools for students and families to see up close.