Safety comes first when ballooning

A herd of mountain goats stand on top of the red rocks and look out as a hot air balloon drifts by Friday during the Red Rocky Balloon Rally at Red Rock State Park in Church Rock, NM. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — It’s the time of year once again when the Gallup morning sky is filled with a panorama of colorful hot-air balloons. The Red Rock Balloon Rally is this weekend.

While the nearly 200 balloons can be a spectacular site, ballooning can be a dangerous activity with its heavy equipment and the amount of heat generated.

The annual balloon rally can be made more enjoyable for all if everyone follows these simple guidelines.

The first and most obvious is no smoking on the balloon field for safety reasons. The balloons utilize tanks containing propane, which is flammable. Also, cigarettes could cause burn holes in the balloon’s delicate fabric.

In addition to being very delicate, the balloon fabric is very expensive. For that reason, do not step on the balloons. When the balloons are being set up, they are laid out on a tarp and take up a lot of space as they are waiting to be inflated.

When balloons get dirty, they cannot be cleaned with water so they must be kept very clean.

Because the balloons take up so much space, it’s important to take care of children on the balloon field and not allow them to run around unsupervised. There is also a lot of dangerous and hot equipment that is being used to inflate the balloons which the children should not be around.

Another pointer is to not bring dogs or other pets to the events. Dogs might walk on the balloons and pilots don’t want to drag their balloons through dog waste. As stated earlier, the balloon fabric is delicate and expensive, as well as hard to clean.

For the same reason, ask before you touch any of the balloons. Some pilots may not mind while others don’t want the natural oils from hands damaging their balloons.
One of the most important things to remember for personal safety is to never stand in front of a balloon. Always stand to the side instead. A hot-air balloon inflated can weigh up to two tons and is capable of causing as much damage as a vehicle when launching or landing.

Also, if you happen to find yourself holding onto any part of the balloon including holding ropes and your feet start to leave the ground, let go immediately.

For personal safety, it’s also a good idea to stay away from the inflater fan. The fans are considered by some to be the most dangerous piece of equipment on the field. They have mufflers which can burn instantly if touched while in operation. The fans can also pick up and toss items.

For that very reason, if you are going to be out on the field, don’t wear loose garments, such as scarves or long belts that can get caught in the fans.

For drivers and those on the roads, there are two tips that can help make the balloon rally safer. First and foremost, watch where you are driving. If you are driving and want to watch the balloons, pull over and park. Don’t become distracted by the colorful balloons if you are operating a vehicle on the road.

Also, make way for the chase crews that are following the balloons. This goes for those at the Red Rock State Park and for those on the road. Sometimes the crews need to get to a balloon quickly.

By following these few tips, the balloon rally can be a fun and safer experience for all.