Wind turbine fire reported near Muirkirk
June 2023Published 29 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Hydro One
What happened
On the evening of 15 June 2023, a wind turbine near Muirkirk Line, at 20275 Duart Road, was seen on fire. A video given to local media showed the turbine already burning when lightning struck it, with thunder in the background, thick black smoke, and burning pieces falling to the ground. The published report also said the blaze followed a lightning strike, so the cause is not clear from this account. Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue attended and secured the area. Hydro One reported a small outage nearby affecting fewer than 20 customers. No injuries were reported. Damage to the turbine itself was not described.
Contributing factors
A thunderstorm was under way. Lightning was reported as the cause, but the filmed strike hit a turbine that was already alight, so ignition is not established.
Lessons learned
- Keep people clear of a burning turbine until falling debris and electrical risk are controlled.
- Do not treat one filmed lightning strike as proof of ignition if the machine is already on fire.
- Record a nearby customer outage separately from damage to the turbine, which may not yet be known.
More lessons on weather and external hazards, outages, backup supply and restoration, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-09-29. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
