Hot-air balloon hits power lines

A hot-air balloon taking part in the winter carnival in Vernon hit power lines and crashed Friday morning.

Vernon North Okanagan RCMP say that at 10 a.m., they received a report a hot-air balloon had collided with high-tension power lines along Highway 97A just south of Armstrong.

“Initial stages of the investigation show that the balloon may have encountered an updraft from wind that forced the balloon to strike a rock face of a hill just adjacent to the highway, causing it then to collide with power lines,” Const. Kelly Brett said in a release.

Capt. Chris Bridgeman, with the fire department in Armstrong, says the balloon wasn’t moving quickly. It briefly hit the power lines and then coasted to the ground as it deflated.

Bridgeman said there was no risk of fire.

A pilot and six passengers were on board the balloon at the time of the crash, says Brett. No injuries were reported to the RCMP and there was no obvious sign of damage to the power lines. However, BC Hydro was notified.

The investigation has been turned over to the Transportation Safety Board.

Vernon Winter Carnival chairperson Deb White says the balloon was ruined.

It was one of several that took off in Vernon and floated toward Armstrong for the first day of the 10-day winter carnival.