As a result, Vestas replaced 10 gear boxes at Kibby Wind farm last year and plans to replace five others this summer. The turbine that caught fire, however, was not among those affected by the gear box issue, said Vestas spokesman Andrew Longeteig.
Wind turbine fires are uncommon, but they've been reported elsewhere and can be spectacular when they do occur. The Kibby Wind turbines have built-in fire detection systems that automatically shut down the turbines in the event of a fire, Semmens said.
The 132-megawatt wind farm was completed in 2010 and has the capacity to generate enough power for about 50,000 homes. The turbine towers are 260 feet high, and the blades reach as high as 411 feet at highest point.