July 22, 2019
Washington

Brush fire ignited by burning wind turbine in southern Washington

By KOMO News Staff | Sunday, July 21st 2019 | komonews.com


(COURTESY: KATE WATSON)

BICKLETON, Wash. – Firefighters are battling a brush fire that has burned several hundred acres in rural Klickitat County so far.

The fire began Saturday afternoon when a generator along a wind turbine unit began smoking and caught fire some 300 feet above the ground near Bickleton, according to the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management.

Melted sections of the turbine fell to the ground, igniting a fire in the grass and brush, which quickly spread in gusty winds to 350-500 acres across the steep canyon.

[from nbcrightnow:]

About two-dozen fire units were at the scene fighting the fire by Saturday evening, with more on the way Sunday. The fire was estimated at 20% containment but officials said favorable weather conditions Saturday night were expected to help get more of the blaze contained.

Three nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution but so far there are no reports of damage or injuries from the fire.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/07/22/brush-fire-ignited-by-burning-wind-turbine-in-southern-washington/