Moment wind turbine catches fire and sends acrid black smoke billowing across city as firefighters battle the blaze
- Black smoke is seen spreading throughout Hull due to wind turbine fire
- Residents told to shut their windows as flames engulfed the blades as they spun
- Research suggests that 120 wind turbines catch fire each year in the UK
Footage shows how smoke has been billowing from a wind turbine that caught fire this morning.
Acrid black smoke is blanketing Hull as multiple firefighters were called at around 7am this morning to put out the wind turbine blaze.
Flames can be seen completely engulfing the turbine’s blades and residents have been advised to close their windows while the fire is tackled.
The 125m-tall (410ft) source of renewable energy is in the north of the city close to the Croda chemicals manufacturing site.
Footage shows how smoke has been seen billowing from a wind turbine that caught fire this morning
Acrid black smoke is blanketing Hull today as multiple firefighters were called at around 7am to the fire
It is reported by the Hull Daily Mail to be the oldest turbine in the city and stands 125m tall.
Planning permission was submitted in May 2006 and the turbine was approved in September 2007 to generate 2MW of electricity.
Wind turbine fire risk: Number that catch alight each year is ten times higher than the industry admits
Nearly 120 wind turbines catch fire each year, according to research in 2014 – ten times the number reported by the industry.
The figures, compiled by engineers at Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh, make fire the second-largest cause of accidents after blade failure.
The researchers claim that out of 200,000 turbines around the world, 117 fires take place annually – far more than the 12 reported by wind farm companies.
Fire has a huge financial impact on the industry, the researchers report in the journal Fire Safety Science.
Each wind turbine costs more than £2 million and generates an estimated income of more than £500,000 per year.
Any loss or downtime of these valuable assets makes the industry less viable and productive.
It helps power the nearby chemical plant on the banks of the River Hull.
The BBC said the fire is now out after parts of it fell on to the grass, burning the area.
Sean Casey, who works nearby, said: ‘We started evacuating just for safety, and then the flames started [at 7am],’ he said.
‘It was quite horrendous to watch.
‘The flames got quite intense. We were fearful that it might drop. We could see the bits dropping, all the cars have got debris on them.’
Lewis Scott, Hull FC’s media manager, was videoing the blaze for social media at around 8am.
He said on Twitter: ‘Wind turbine at Croda in North Hull in a major bother this morning – huge fire, and looks to be falling apart.
‘Acrid black smoke drifting east across the city.’
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said on Twitter they have received ‘multiple calls’ about the fire.
The statement says: ‘We are receiving multiple calls regarding a fire involving the wind turbine on Oak Road fields between Clough Road and Sutton Fields in Hull.
‘Crews are in attendance.’
Nearly 120 wind turbines catch fire each year in the UK, according to research in 2014 – ten times the number reported by the industry.
The figures, compiled by engineers at Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh, make fire the second-largest cause of accidents after blade failure.
The researchers claim that out of 200,000 turbines around the world, 117 fires take place annually – far more than the 12 reported by wind farm companies.
Fire has a huge financial impact on the industry, the researchers report in the journal Fire Safety Science.
Each wind turbine costs more than £2 million and generates an estimated income of more than £500,000 per year.
Any loss or downtime of these valuable assets makes the industry less viable and productive.
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