A hot air balloon has crashed in Methven injuring two people this morning while taking part in a promotion for this weekend's Fire and Ice festival.

Shortly after 10 hot air balloons were launched to celebrate the return of the event, one came crashing down on Methven Chertsey Road next to the Methven rugby.

Methven's Kate Stewart had captured an image of the balloons shortly after lift off when the "bottom balloon deflated right as I took this picture".

Stewart told RNZ she was admiring the balloons and everything happened very quickly.

"The balloon started to tilt and seconds after I took the photo it deflated and went down. Not long after sirens went off," she said.

Two people were hurt and were being assessed by St John staff.

"We are currently transporting one patient to a local medical centre in a minor condition," a St John spokesperson said.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand said it was called shortly before 8.30am, after the hot air balloon crashed into a tree on its ascent.