Turbine burns on Naff ridge

One of the wind turbines along Naff Ridge between Rosalia and Oakesdale caught fire and burned Friday night. The turbine was located on the Oakesdale end of the row of 58 turbines, and Oakesdale volunteers were the primary responders.

Fire crews from Rosalia, Garfield and Steptoe also responded. Crews remained on scene for approximately three hours.

The turbine generators are in nacelle units which are mounted on 80 meter (260 feet) steel poles.

Each of the towers is fitted with sensing devices and can automatically disconnect from the grid by a large-scale fixture which acts as a circuit breaker.

Vestas is the contractor in charge of maintaining the towers. Fire crews had to get to the scene via dirt access roads at the Oakesdale end of the row of turbines. Among concerns was the stability of the 260-foot pole mount with the weight of the turbine and the hydraulic fluid.

Rosalia Fire Chief Bill Tensfeld said there was some concern the burning hydraulic oil would extend down the inside of the massive support pole.

Cause of the fire is unknown. The next step will be to determine the extent of damage and the possible hazards on top of the structure before determining a repair or replacement project. The company plans to use drones and high power cameras to determine the extent of damage and the degree of hazard, according to a spokesman Monday morning.

Heavy rains Monday are believed to have left the site temporarily inaccessible.