TURBINE FIRE

TURBINE FIRE — A wind turbine caught fire sometime Saturday at Kingfisher Wind Farm southeast of Kingfisher at the intersection of NS 2920 and EW 840 roads. Okarche Fire Department was notified of the fire shortly after 12:30 p.m. and responded with five firefighters and three units, Chief Steve Liebl told the Times & Free Press. Trucks from Big 4, Kingfisher and Cashion also were dispatched but turned back when it was determined they weren’t needed. Liebl said representatives of Apex Clean Energy also were at the scene. The fire was mostly confined to the engine housing but also partially burned the blades and about three acres of grass below, Liebl said. Two similar fires have occurred at the wind farm near Calumet, but Liebl said this was the first reported at the Kingfisher farm. An Apex representative quoted in the Enid News said the turbine was taken offline and the cause of the fire is under investigation. [Photo Credit: Charles Jindra]