Wildfire near Bickleton, Washington reportedly linked by witnesses to a broken wind turbine

A wildfire named the Juniper Fire started on the afternoon of Saturday 20 July 2019 in the Pine Creek Drainage area south of Bickleton, Klickitat County, Washington. Reported size estimates varied, with an early figure of about 350 acres of grass, sagebrush and timber and a later report of 242 acres and 40 percent containment by the Sunday evening. Witnesses said the fire was started by a broken wind turbine, but officials said the cause remained under investigation, so the involvement of any energy asset is not confirmed. The fire threatened homes, crops and infrastructure, with 39 structures reported as threatened and none burned, and level three evacuations were in place for the Pine Creek Drainage area. About 201 people worked the fire, with state assistance mobilised under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan at the request of the local fire district, while crews contended with gusts of about 28 mph and low humidity.

Witness accounts pointed to a wind turbine failure as the ignition source, which was not officially confirmed at the time of reporting. Wind gusts of about 28 mph and low humidity were reported as conditions faced by crews and would have supported rapid spread once the fire started.

1. Assets in dry grass and sagebrush country carry wildfire ignition risk, so operators should keep ignition source inspection and vegetation management current through the fire season.
2. Where a possible ignition source sits on an operating site, early liaison with the local fire service and prompt preservation of equipment evidence assists the official investigation.
3. Witness accounts of a cause should be kept separate from confirmed investigation findings in both public and internal reporting.

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