Gladbrook, Lincoln first responders take part in wind turbine safety training | News, Sports, Jobs

As the Vienna Wind Farm modernization project gets underway in Tama County, first responders from the Gladbrook and Lincoln areas participated in safety training last month designed to simulate a wind turbine accident.

“This training was conducted to test all systems and procedures in the event of a real emergency,” said Criag Sash, lieutenant and training officer for Gladbrook Fire and Rescue, in a recent email. “Real-life simulations are excellent training [and] “Learning opportunities that allow all stakeholders to participate in near-real situations.”

The August 7 training took place at a Vienna wind turbine located about three miles southwest of Gladbrook. At the time, the turbine was not in operation due to the repowering project. The training simulated an ill or injured person in a wind turbine.

“Teams formed from wind turbines were responsible for obtaining [the] victim from the top of the wind turbine to the base of the wind turbine, [while] Emergency services then took over the transport, securing the landing zone and transferring the patient to air care,” Sash said.

Gladbrook Fire and Rescue firefighters help transport an “injured patient” from a wind turbine at the Vienna Wind Farm on Aug. 7 as part of a safety training that simulated a person falling into a wind turbine. The Vienna Wind Farm, located near Gladbrook in Tama County, is currently undergoing a repowering project by Mortenson Wind Energy.

Those involved in the training included Gladbrook Fire and Rescue, Gladbrook-Lincoln Ambulance, Tama County 911, University of Iowa Air and Mobile Critical Care (AirCare), Mortenson Wind Energy and MidAmerican Energy.

Although MidAmerican is the operator of the Vienna Wind Farm, Mortenson was involved in the initial development of the project more than a decade ago and is currently working on the farm's renewal.

Approximately 30 of the Vienna Wind Farm’s turbines are located within Gladbrook Fire and Rescue’s territory. To Sash’s knowledge, no similar training has been conducted in Tama County before because it is not mandatory.

“To my knowledge, there is no Iowa or county code requiring this training, but it is required for [Mortenson] “We were very happy to train for an event like this and luckily for us they were there and we were able to train with them,” he said.

Sash said the training went off without a hitch, leading to a “great response to the event.”

PHOTO FEATURED — Gladbrook Fire and Rescue first responders pictured during a safety training session held on August 7 at a wind turbine at the Vienna Wind Farm near Gladbrook. The training simulated an ill or injured person in a wind turbine.

With the possibility of new turbines being built in Tama County as part of Conifer Power's Salt Creek Wind Project currently in development, Sash said any future training would likely involve additional departments.

“[S]Since Salt Creek will extend over several territories [including Gladbrook, Garwin, Traer, and Toledo]”I see the need for more extensive and joint training,” he said.

Sash also responded to the need for EMS volunteers throughout Tama County.

“[A]“All departments and agencies are short of volunteers and we all have mutual aid agreements in place and are all working together right now. … We are all short of volunteers,” he said.

Individuals interested in volunteering as first responders are encouraged to contact their local EMS department using the following information:

— Clutier Fire Department/First Responders: Director Sharon Knoop at 319-479-2530

— Dysart Ambulance: Director Julie Scadden at 319-476-4911

— Elberon Fire and Rescue/EMS: Director Alicia Lidtke (no phone number available)

— Garwin Ambulance: Call 641-499-2307

— Gladbrook-Lincoln Ambulance: Director Kern Kemp at 641-473-2281

— Montour Fire & EMS: Mike Buchanan, Chief of Emergency Medical Services, at 641-492-6420

— Tama Ambulance: Jimmy Hicklin, Emergency Medical Services Administrator, at 641-484-2425

— Toledo Fire Rescue & EMS: Director Greg Johnson at 641-484-3580

— Traer Ambulance: Director Shaun Kennedy at 319-478-2084