Albuquerque: Hot Air Balloon Festival Grounds Firefighters to Battle Small Blaze

Albuquerque Firefighters Extinguish Blaze at Hot Air Balloon Festival GroundsAlbuquerque Firefighters Extinguish Blaze at Hot Air Balloon Festival Grounds Albuquerque, NM – Firefighters from the Albuquerque Fire Department responded to a small blaze at the Hot Air Balloon Festival Grounds on Sunday afternoon. According to officials, the fire broke out in a wooded area near the launch field at around 2:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Crews arrived on scene and quickly deployed firefighting equipment to extinguish the flames. The fire was contained to a small area and did not spread to any structures. Firefighters worked diligently for approximately 30 minutes to control the blaze. No injuries were reported. The Hot Air Balloon Festival Grounds are currently closed to the public for clean-up and investigation. The festival is scheduled to begin on October 1st, and organizers are working to ensure that the site is safe for attendees. Chief Harold Medina, Albuquerque Fire Department, commended the swift and effective response of his firefighters. “Our crews did an excellent job of quickly containing the fire and preventing it from escalating,” said Medina. “We are grateful that no one was injured.” The Albuquerque Fire Department urges the public to take precautions to prevent wildfires, especially during dry conditions. These precautions include: * Never leave a campfire unattended. * Keep campfires small and contained. * Be aware of wind conditions and have a plan to extinguish your fire quickly if necessary. * Dispose of cigarettes properly. * Report any suspicious activity or potential fire hazards to 911.