Wind turbine fire at Harvest Wind II project in Michigan draws spectators, no injuries

A wind turbine caught fire on 1 April 2019 near Elkton in Huron County, Michigan. The turbine is part of the Harvest Wind II project, which Exelon Generation says is its project. The fire produced black smoke and flaming debris fell from the turbine, drawing local spectators who watched and recorded the event. Crews could not reach the fire at the top of the turbine, so it was left to burn itself out. As a precaution, operators de-energised other turbines at the Harvest Wind II project. No injuries were reported.

Not reported. The cause of the fire is not stated in the available reporting.

1. Turbine fires at height are often beyond the reach of ground-based fire crews, so response plans should anticipate a controlled burn-out with a safe cordon.
2. Precautionary de-energisation of adjacent turbines can reduce escalation risk while a fire is in progress.
3. Falling burning debris and public gathering to watch show the value of rapid perimeter control and clear public messaging during a turbine fire.

themorningsun.com/2019/04/02/wind-turbine-fire-in-huron-county-draws-spect...