BALLOON CONTACT WITH PWR LINES DURING LNDG.

Narrative

WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A SPECIAL EVENT WITH 2 PAX ABOARD; I NOTED A LARGE PAVED PARKING LOT AHEAD. IT LOOKED LIKE A PERFECT PLACE TO LAND AND PACK UP MY BALLOON. THE LOT WAS BEHIND (W) A RESTAURANT LOCATED ON THE W FRONTAGE ROAD OF I-10. I APCHED FROM THE E ON A SW TRACK. THERE WAS A CHAIN LINK FENCE TOPPED WITH BARBED WIRE ABOUT 15 FT AWAY ALONG THE N SIDE OF THE PAVED AREA. I ASKED MY PAX TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR WIRES AND TOLD THEM WE WOULD SKIM THE FENCE AND TOUCH DOWN ON THE EDGE OF THE PAVED AREA. NO ONE SAW WIRES ON THE APCH. THE LOW ANGLE SUN AND/OR THE DARK PAVEMENT IN THE BACKGROUND MAY HAVE BEEN WHAT CAUSED THE WIRES TO BE INVISIBLE. ADDITIONALLY; THE SUPPORTING POLES WERE FURTHER APART THAN IS USUAL AND THEY ALSO BLENDED INTO THE BACKGROUND. I SAW THE WIRES OUTLINED AGAINST THE SKY JUST AS WE WERE ABOUT TO TOUCH DOWN. I SHOUTED 'GET DOWN' AND PULLED MY PARACHUTE TOP OUT AS WE MADE CONTACT. THE ENVELOPE DRAPED ACROSS THE WIRES AND RECEIVED 3 SMALL BURNS. WE ALL STAYED IN THE BASKET UNTIL PWR COMPANY PERSONNEL ASSURED US THAT PWR WAS OFF AND IT WAS SAFE TO EXIT. EXCEPT FOR THE CONTACT; IT WAS A SMOOTH SOFT TOUCHDOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.