Wind turbine ignited in Stemwede: Fire brigade fights against fire giant!

Wind turbine ignited in Stemwede: Fire brigade fights against fire giant!

A wind turbine caused a stir in Stemwede, East Westphalia, on Wednesday evening when it burst into flames during a violent storm. The exact causes are still unclear; It remains to be seen whether lightning struck or the wind turbine overheated due to the strong wind. The fire department received the alarm message at 7:20 p.m. and made its way to the scene of the accident, where they were faced with the challenge of extinguishing the burning wind turbine, which was around 70 meters high. This height made extinguishing work considerably more difficult, as the emergency services only had limited opportunities to intervene actively. However, the area around the wind turbine was closed and measures were taken to clear falling debris while firefighters waited for the fire to calm down, which took several hours. A total of around 30 firefighters were on duty, including forces from other parts of East Westphalia who had to contend with storm damage.

For many residents, the image of the blazing wind turbine from the distance gave the impression of a huge torch lighting up the sky. The emergency services also took care of removing fallen branches and trees from the streets, which were also affected by the storm damage. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries and the situation was kept under control, apart from minor accidents in the area.

Comparison with other incidents

A similar incident recently occurred at the Fischbeck wind farm, where a wind turbine built in 2000 burst into flames. While the alarm was sounded there, the fire brigades from Fischbeck and Kabelitz were on duty to control the flames and prevent them from spreading. The fire chief on site emphasized that things would have been worse with higher temperatures and wind. There was a similar fire in the region nine years earlier. In this case, firefighters provided a controlled firefighting effort while paying attention to weather conditions that made extinguishing operations easier.

enercity AG intends to demolish several old turbines in the Fischbeck wind farm and replace them with new, more efficient wind turbines. These new plants will be able to generate enough electricity annually to power approximately 37,000 households.

Safety aspects in wind energy

The incidents also raise questions about the safety of wind turbines. According to the German wind industry, safety precautions in the wind energy industry are crucial in order to avoid accidents and ensure the actual functionality of the systems over the years. Emergency plans are necessary to respond quickly in the event of mechanical failures, fires or extreme weather events. Regular training and communication tools are crucial to familiarize employees with the necessary protocols and ensure coordination in an emergency, experts say.

Lightning protection is a far-reaching topic. Many wind turbines today are equipped with modern lightning protection systems that protect important electronic components. Regular inspections of electrical systems and automatic fire alarm systems with smoke and heat sensors are further measures intended to increase safety. Recent incidents make it clear how important it is to take these security standards seriously in order to better meet future challenges.