Several people were injured on Saturday when high winds hurled a hot air balloon onto attendees and property at the Fourth Annual Independence Day Craft Fair in Williams, Arizona. The fair, aimed at benefiting the Williams area Habitat for Humanity, was abruptly disrupted by the unforeseen incident just before noon on July 6.

The Incident

The event began smoothly with various activities, including tethered hot air balloon rides. However, shortly before noon, high winds caught a hot air balloon loaded with propane, causing it to become unmoored and wreak havoc. The wind flung the balloon around the ground, injuring several people and causing significant property damage. The balloon damaged cars, light poles, electrical connections, and blocked a roadway, creating chaos at the fairgrounds.

Injuries Reported

Witnesses reported seeing a junior marine, who was part of a group assisting with the balloon rides, getting injured. Along with him, an 8-year-old girl and a woman holding the balloon's rope were also hurt. The woman sustained serious arm injuries, necessitating treatment at a trauma center.

"They were all transported to Flagstaff Medical Center. Injuries included a broken thumb and rope burns for the 8-year-old girl, and back and neck injuries for the 15-year-old boy. The adult woman sustained abrasions," the Williams Police said in a news release.

Cause of the Incident

According to Williams Police, "The Pilot, identified as Dwayne Osborne, stated that initial wind speeds were around 7-8 miles per hour. However, a sudden thermal gust escalated the winds to 40-50 miles per hour, leading to the balloon detaching from its anchor point and colliding with nearby structures and vehicles. There were no passengers in the balloon at the time."

Federal Investigation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified of the incident and is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to understand what exactly went wrong and to prevent future occurrences. The tethered hot air balloon rides, a highlight of the fair, were suspended immediately following the incident.

Expert Insights

Meteorologist Brian Klimowski with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff explained that the forecast indicated conditions suitable for ballooning. "Yesterday the forecast was for warm weather with winds anywhere from 10, maybe gusting to 25 mph. There's nothing within that forecast that would keep me from taking a ride in a hot air balloon," Klimowski said.

Ballooning expert Pat Cannon supported this view, explaining that while flying balloons in the middle of the day is uncommon due to potential thermal activity, inflating them for advertising or other purposes is feasible. However, a dust devil—a localized whirlwind often observed in arid regions—unexpectedly formed, causing the incident.

"We can't detect dust devils with our radar or surface instrumentation, so they're largely unpredictable but common events," Klimowski added.

Cannon recounted his own experience with dust devils, emphasizing their unpredictability and power. "Many years ago, a dust devil twisted a balloon I was handling around when it was lying on the ground. It picked it up, twisted it, and threw it back down," he said.

Safety and Vigilance

Cannon stressed that while hot air balloon rides are generally safe, attendees at ballooning events should remain vigilant. "Even a balloon that's inflated and moving toward you represents several tons of movement of an object through the air," he said, urging people to exercise caution around such large and potentially dangerous equipment.

Community and Emergency Response

The rapid response from emergency services and the community was crucial in managing the aftermath of the incident. First responders quickly transported the injured to Flagstaff Medical Center, and fair organizers coordinated with local authorities to secure the area and ensure the safety of remaining attendees. The community has shown solidarity, with many expressing their support and concern for those injured.

Weather Preparedness

In the wake of this incident, there is a renewed focus on weather preparedness for outdoor events. Event organizers are being reminded to monitor weather conditions continuously and have contingency plans in place for sudden changes, especially in areas prone to extreme weather phenomena like dust devils.

Conclusion

The incident at the Williams fair serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather and its potential impact on outdoor events. The community rallies in support of those injured and affected by this unfortunate event. As investigations continue, lessons learned from this incident will hopefully enhance safety measures for future events.

For more detailed information and updates on the incident, follow local news outlets and the Williams Police Department announcements.