Debris from burning wind turbine falls near farmhouse north of St Cyrus

The generator of a large wind turbine north of St Cyrus caught fire, causing burning debris to fly off near a farm.

Fire crews from Laurencekirk and Montrose arrived on the scene at 2.40pm. It was extinguished after the electricity was isolated by 3.20pm.

The turbine is owned by the Browlie family, who run the Mains of Lauriston Farm.

Sonia Browlie Kelman lives in a cottage on the farm and has two children. Her father and mother own the farm.

Turbine started launching burning debris

She said: “I was working from home when my joiner came running through the house and said the turbine is on fire.

“There was debris on fire and it was flying off of it and getting caught by the wind.

“We were lucky the direction the wind was going was away from the farm but there were small fires going on in the nearby fields.”

Due to the electric nature of the fire, the fire service did not actively try and put it out with water.

To avoid the flying debris they stayed a safe distance away and observed.

Fire crews remained on the scene and awaited the arrival of power firm Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) who cut off the turbine from the power supply.

‘My response was to burst into tears’

Mrs Browlie Kelman said: “One of the mechanisms in the turbine is meant to raise and alarm if it has any faults, but it never when off.

“Everybody is obviously shocked – you don’t expect that.

“Mine and my mother’s emotional response was to burst into tears.”

The family have had the privately owned turbine for around 10 years, using it to help cut energy costs on their farm.

There are several other privately owned turbines also in the St Cyrus area.

At this stage, the family says the financial implications of the fire are not clear.

Livelihood up in a ‘puff of smoke’

Mrs Browlie Kelman added: “I think people are quick to forget that it is part of someone’s livelihood, and you watch it go up in a puff of smoke.

“Everyone is at least safe.”

A neighbouring farmer said: “I have a wind turbine too and them going on fire is a concern for anybody really.”