Wind turbine fire in Arlington, Oregon sparks 2,000-acre wildfire
Aug 2018Published 14 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Rattlesnake Road near Arlington, Oregon
- What
- Wind turbine caught fire and sparked 2,000-acre wildfire
- Injuries
- None reported
- Cause
- Not reported
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What happened
On 2 August 2018, a wind turbine on Rattlesnake Road near Arlington, Oregon caught fire. The fire spread from the turbine and grew into a wildfire covering approximately 2,000 acres, according to the North Gilliam Rural Fire Protection District. The blaze jumped Highway 19, forcing a road closure, and burned two railroad bridges before firefighters brought it under control. No evacuations were required and no injuries were reported. The turbine's owner or operator was not named in the report, nor was the specific wind farm identified.
Contributing factors
Not reported.
Lessons learned
- A wind turbine fire can spread rapidly to dry vegetation, so operators should keep defensible space clear around turbines in arid areas.
- Turbine fires may reach roads and rail bridges, so emergency plans must include routes that cross infrastructure.
More lessons on spacing, layout and fire spread, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Cause of the fire
- Turbine model and age
- Name of owner or operator
- Cost of damage and downtime
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Published 2026-09-14. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
