Turbine destroyed by fire at Victorian wind farm near Portland

A fire broke out at the top of a wind turbine at the Cape Nelson South wind farm near Portland, Victoria, owned by Pacific Blue. Fire Rescue Victoria was called just before 8pm on a Friday and found one blade had already fallen from the turbine, with the other two expected to follow. Firefighters allowed the fire to burn out as there was nothing that could be done to extinguish it safely. The turbine, a Senvion MM82 with a hub height of 69 metres, was destroyed. Pacific Blue stated that emergency protocols were activated, the site was secured, power to the affected turbine was isolated and no injuries were sustained. The State Fire Investigation Unit opened an inquiry into the cause, expected to take several weeks given the complexity of the scene and the need to ensure investigator safety. It was reported as the first such fire in the Portland wind farm area in around 20 years of operation.

Cause not yet determined at time of reporting; investigation into the fire's origin was ongoing.

1. Wind turbine fires at height often cannot be safely extinguished and must be allowed to burn out, so site emergency plans should account for controlled burn scenarios.
2. Isolating power to the affected turbine and securing the site are effective immediate steps to protect personnel.
3. Post-incident investigations of turbine fires can take weeks due to scene complexity and safety considerations for investigators, and operators should plan for extended downtime accordingly.

reneweconomy.com.au/turbine-fire-at-victoria-wind-farm-under-investigation