A wind turbine caught fire on April 5th in Rządza, Jakubów municipality, prompting a lengthy overnight response from emergency services.
Fire Breaks Out at Wind Turbine
On the evening of Sunday, April 5th, a fire erupted in a wind turbine located in Rządza, within the Jakubów municipality. The fire engulfed the upper section of the structure, and falling debris ignited a nearby stand of young trees.
The fire department received the report around 9:30 PM. Firefighters from Mińsk Mazowiecki and surrounding Volunteer Fire Departments (OSP) were dispatched, with police providing support. The operation was a prolonged, multi-hour effort complicated by the height of the turbine and the nature of the fire.
Challenges in Fire Suppression
Upon arrival, firefighters found the upper part of the turbine ablaze. Due to the structure’s height, direct application of extinguishing agents to the source of the fire was impossible. Efforts focused on securing the area around the turbine, monitoring the burning structure, and extinguishing falling fragments that could start new fires.
One such fragment ignited a fire in a nearby young forest. After the power was cut off, the fire within the turbine itself subsided, easing the work of the emergency services.
Extensive Response and Investigation
Fire crews from the State Fire Service of Mińsk Mazowiecki, and Volunteer Fire Departments from Wiśniew, Jakubów, and Łazisk participated in the operation. Around 11:30 PM, the site was still being secured, and firefighters continued to monitor the aftermath until morning to prevent reignition.
Initial investigations suggest a lightning strike as a possible cause, as a thunderstorm was passing over the area at the time.
