Prepared for all events with turbines

Mirror
16/05/2007 Page: 8

AS PART of their general emergency response planning, Captain Ray Argento and Secretary Ken Roche of Toora Fire Brigade met recently with various representatives to discuss how to deal with various scenarios relating to the wind turbines on the Toora hills.

The meeting was also attended by Toora Wind Farm Manager Barry Atkins of Stanwell Corporation, Specialist Response Officer Ken O'Brien from Country Fire Authority [CFA] Headquarters, Gippsland CFA Regional Operations Officer Simon Bloink and South Gippsland Group Officer Neville Pulham.

Captain Ray Argento said that Toora CFA volunteers had already carried out special training exercises since the wind farm's construction in relation to wind turbine fires.

Mr O'Brien advised that the current meeting was effectively fine-tuning strategies for the CFA to follow in the unlikely event that there was a hazardous materials problem or a person was trapped in the nacelle [the room or capsule at the top of the tower that contains the equipment].