Wind turbine fire reported in Steuben County

What happened

A single wind turbine caught fire at the top of the tower on the Allegany and Steuben County line, officially in Steuben County, United States. The fire was reported as isolated. Rexville/West Union and Greenwood fire crews could not extinguish it because of the height, stayed for several hours, and then handed the scene to the wind company. A photograph taken the next morning showed that the tower had not fallen and the blades had not come off. No one was injured, and officials said there was no danger to the public. It was not reported whether the fire had been fully dealt with by the following morning.

Lessons learned

1. Emergency plans should allow for a fire at the top of a turbine that ground crews cannot extinguish because of height.
2. Agree a clear handover from the fire service to the operator when the fire cannot be fought from the ground.
3. Check the tower and blades after a tower-top fire, and do not treat the incident as closed until the operator confirms it.

Source

wellsvillesun.com