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Hot Air Balloon Catches Fire and Crashes in B.C., Injuring 11 People; Two Missing

Posted on: Saturday, 25 August 2007, 06:14 CDT

SURREY, B.C. (CP) - Twelve people have been injured and two are missing after a hot air balloon caught fire and crashed to the ground as horrified witnesses looked on.

RCMP Sgt. Roger Morrow said 15 ambulances, two air ambulances and eight fire trucks raced to the scene at Hazelmere Trailer Park on Friday evening.

Morrow said the passengers suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and have been transported to various hospitals in the Vancouver area.

News reports said residents in the area witnessed a chaotic scene as passengers began jumping out of the burning balloon.

"People were screaming and trying to get out," said Frank Hersey near a grassy field where several of the injured were being attended to by ambulance crews.

A shaken Perry Kendall said he saw what looked like something out of a movie.

"It was horrifying," he said. "Just looking at people screaming and jumping out of there. Some of them, I think, had fire on their clothes. It was just awful."

Witnesses also said propane tanks from the balloon shot off and landed on the RV park below as several trailers burst into flames.

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

A similar incident occurred earlier this month in Manitoba, where 12 people were injured, some suffering second-and third-degree burns.

Source: Canadian Press

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