Wind turbine fire at Lerida Road windfarm near Goulburn contained
Jan 2023Published 9 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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Companies named in this entry: Southern
What happened
A wind turbine caught fire at the Lerida Road windfarm near Goulburn, New South Wales, on the morning of Thursday 5 January 2023. Firefighters from the NSW Rural Fire Service, Goulburn Brigade and Parkesbourne Rural Fire Brigade attended, with Gunning Fish River Rural Fire Brigade on scene from shortly after 6am. Flames were visible from the Hume Highway and surrounding areas. Firefighters reported that the fire, which was beyond the reach of firefighting resources, was contained.
The use of a helicopter was ruled out. NSW RFS said there was no immediate threat to nearby properties. Power to the turbine was isolated, and crews monitored the surrounding ground for grass fires. The wind farm contractor attended alongside fire crews and advised that the best course of action was to let the turbine burn out. NSW RFS said that best practice for wind turbine fires is to let them burn out and that putting water on them is not advisable.
The cause was not determined at the time of reporting. Storms across NSW and the ACT the previous day were suggested as a possible contributor.
Contributing factors
The cause had not been determined at the time of reporting. Fire services said storm cells crossing the Southern Riverina on the previous day could have contributed, but this was a possibility only and not confirmed.
Lessons learned
- Where a turbine fire is beyond the reach of firefighting resources, operators and fire services should agree in advance a response plan, including isolating power and monitoring surrounding vegetation for grass fires.
- Contractors on site should advise fire crews on safe tactics for turbine fires, since applying water to energised electrical equipment can be hazardous.
- Post-incident investigation should establish the cause of turbine fires, including whether weather such as storms played a role, to inform maintenance and protection measures.
More lessons on detection and monitoring, worker safety and safe systems of work, weather and external hazards, from every incident on the register.
Published 2026-10-09. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
