Flames destroy Locust Ridge wind turbine in Mahanoy Township
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Flames can be seen within the generator and blade of a wind turbine as debris falls at Avangrid's Locust Ridge I wind farm on Dec. 28, 2020.
MAHANOY TOWNSHIP – In at least the fourth incident of its kind since the wind farms atop Locust Mountain were constructed, a wind turbine was destroyed by fire here Monday afternoon.
Flames and smoke could be seen from as far as Shenandoah’s Turkey Run section and Interstate 81 near Frackville as one of the Avangrid-owned wind turbines burned.
Mahanoy City firefighters were called just before 3:00pm for the fire, and stood by at the scene as flaming debris fell from the turbine, risking a brush fire.
The turbine is part of a the Locust Ridge 1 wind farm, owned by Avangrid Renewables of Portland, Oregon and is on Girard Estate land. Locust Ridge 1 was built in 2007.
Monday’s fire is at least the fourth fire at both of Avangrid’s wind farms on Locust Mountain — Locust Ridge I in Mahanoy Township and Locust Ridge II near Raven Run.
On May 14, 2009, Turbine 12 burned at the Locust Ridge I farm. On March 15, 2014, another fire occurred in the Locust Ridge I farm. Most recently, on May 21, 2018, a turbine was damaged by fire in the Locust Ridge II farm.
The turbines in the two windfarms are manufactured by Gamesa Corp. of Spain. With blades fully extended, the turbines stand at 407 feet tall.
As Monday’s fire burned out and Avangrid employees monitored the situation, Mahanoy City firefighters cleared the scene around 4:30pm.
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