LONGVIEW, Texas — Two Longview firefighters are describing a rare high-angle rescue after a hot air balloon struck a radio tower, leaving two people stranded more than 900 feet above the ground.
Lieutenant Stephen Winchell said firefighters have trained for balloon emergencies involving entanglements in trees or power lines, but not for a rescue at the extreme height responders faced during the Feb. 28 incident, KLTV reported.
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“We have literally talked about this one, and briefed and talked about what would happen if a hot air balloon got stuck in a tree or a power line, but we just didn’t expect both of those scenarios to get combined today, to one very tall rescue,” Winchell told KLTV.
First responders were dispatched to the tower after receiving a report of a high-angle rescue involving a hot air balloon. The rescue took roughly four hours from the time crews began climbing until both riders reached the ground. Winchell said the riders’ physical condition was a key factor in how the operation unfolded.
“If it had been people that were injured or not as capable as they, we would’ve had to climb out to the basket and that would’ve added a significant degree of difficulty,” he said.
Firefighter Cliff Patrick, a 16-year veteran, said he was off duty when the high-angle rescue call came in and arrived about 20 to 30 minutes after the initial plan was set.
Patrick said the balloon operator had shut off the fuel valve and tried to secure the basket to the radio tower before crews arrived. Rescuers then used a half-inch static rope to stabilize the basket and fitted the riders with rescue harnesses before the extraction began.
“They were able to get that gear on. We were able to just talk them through everything we needed of them,” Patrick told KLTV.
The riders stayed calm and followed instructions, helping crews guide them through securing their harnesses and preparing for extraction, which streamlined the rescue.
Winchell and Patrick said the rescue required extensive coordination, with 14 firefighters positioned at various points on the radio tower and about 21 more supporting the operation from the ground.
“There was a big team effort that went into this,” Winchell said. “Fourteen guys were on that tower making this happen, another 21 firemen on the ground, and other agencies participating.”
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