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Vegas Hot-Air Balloon Business Takes Flight After Fire

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas Balloon Rides is taking flight for the first time since routine re-fueling erupted into a fire at the company's office near the Las Vegas Strip, injuring a pilot and destroying three of the company's baskets.

The company's spokesman Jeff Chatterton said the balloon would take off shortly after 6 a.m. Friday.

The fire shot tall flames visible from nearby high-rise hotel-casinos last Tuesday morning, injuring a pilot who was refueling the company's propane tanks.

The Clark County Fire Department says the fire was an accident. Chatterton says the company and the pilot don't know what could have caused it.

He says the pilot has been medically cleared to fly again but he won't be piloting Friday's flight.

Fire officials estimate there was $750,000 worth of damage.

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