Wind farm substation is damaged by blaze

WEST MARTINSBURG — A transformer at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm's substation off Rector Road was destroyed by fire late Monday afternoon.

Martinsburg firefighters were dispatched to the substation about 5 p.m. but had to wait until the facility was shut down before extinguishing the blaze, said Lewis County Fire Coordinator James M. Martin.

The fire was contained to the damaged part, located outside the control building, Mr. Martin said.

"It didn't get inside, and it didn't get into the other transformers," he said.

The Columbus Day fire was the second transformer fire at the site, with a similar incident occurring July 4, 2007. In that case, 491 gallons of mineral oil leaked from the damaged transformer and temporarily contaminated a nearby residential well. About 15 other wells also were tested, but none was affected.

Some oil also leaked into the soil Monday, although the amount hasn't been determined yet, said state Department of Environmental Conservation Region 6 spokesman Stephen W. Litwhiler. The transformer had a capacity of 550 gallons, but some of the oil burned, remained inside the unit or was recovered before it seeped into the soil.

The wind farm retained a firm Monday night to immediately begin excavation of contaminated soil, and DEC will continue to investigate and monitor the situation, Mr. Litwhiler said.

DEC officials on Tuesday were attempting to contact the homeowner whose well had been contaminated in 2007 to notify him of the incident, he said.

Attempts to reach wind farm officials for comment Tuesday afternoon were unsuccessful.