Wielkopolskie: About 160 meters above the ground the windmill’s blade caught fire

At an altitude of about 160 meters – beyond the range of firefighting equipment – the propeller of a windmill in Ciołków (Gostyń County, Greater Poland Province) is burning. Before midnight, a helicopter was launched from Bielsko-Biała (Śląskie Voivodeship) to help firefighters extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire is probably a lightning strike.

Press officer of the Wielkopolska Provincial Commander of the State Fire Service brig. Sławomir Brandt said that the firefighters are not yet able to extinguish the fan of the windmill burning from early evening. “The only reasonable solution at the moment, considering the safety of rescuers, is to use a helicopter” – he emphasized.

“At the moment, the fire is at an altitude of 160 m. It is beyond the range of our equipment, even beyond the range of the highest in Wielkopolska boom of the Poznań Specialist Group of High-Altitude Rescue, which was used, for example, during the fire extinguishing of the cathedral in Gorzów Wielkopolski” – he said.

He added that there are 15 fire brigades on site to secure the site. “Unfortunately, there are not too many helicopters with suspended water tanks and the ability to fly at night. Before midnight, a helicopter from Bielsko-Biała will set off here. Its arrival is planned at around 1 am. It will try to dump the water” – he explained.

“The arrangement of the blades of this windmill is beneficial for us and this fire does not develop very dynamically. It does not blow too intensely, so this propeller burns out slowly” – described Brandt. There are wind turbine experts on site, he added.

He also appealed to local residents who want to see the firefighting operation, not to drive too close, because rescuers need passable roads for their vehicles.

The fire brigade received a notification of a windmill blade fire on Monday at approx. 18.30. According to the rescuers, the propeller probably caught fire after being struck by lightning.

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