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Fire Prevention and Emergency
Preparedness Plan for
Black Oak Wind Farm
1.0 Project Description
The Black Oak Wind Farm Project is a commercial scale wind farm project proposed by Black
Oak Wind Farm, LLC. The project includes the construction and operation of 7 wind turbines,
the installation and operation of associated collection lines, and related facilities including a
substation in Enfield, NY.
2.0 Emergency Management Responsibilities
The Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response is the lead coordinating agency for
regional preparedness and emergency management efforts. Its 911 dispatch center provides
computer-aided dispatch services related to law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical
services. Law enforcement services are provided to the Town of Enfield by the Tompkins
County Sheriff’s Department
The all-volunteer Enfield Fire Company provides fire services to the Project area, as well as
advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), life support, and critical care services.
Bangs Ambulance Service also provides life support and critical care transport. One hospital
serves Tompkins County directly, Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, about 11 miles from the
wind project site.
In addition, helicopter services operating out of Syracuse, New York and Sayre Pennsylvania are
also available through the 911 dispatch center at Tompkins County Department of Emergency
Response.
Prior to the start of construction, a meeting will be held with the General Contractor building the
project, and local emergency response providers to establish their responsibilities. The Project
operator will also be responsible for communicating hazards to employees and contractors;
establishing an accident/injury reporting procedure, as well as protocol for employees to report
significant “near- miss” incidents; and conducting emergency response drills to test the
effectiveness of emergency communications and response systems and procedures. These
procedures will be followed throughout construction and operation.
In the event of an emergency, the emergency response team will consist of project employees
who assume the following roles:
• Emergency care provider:
The role of the emergency care provider(s) (ECP) is to administer first aid/CPR to injured
person, as needed. At least two ECP’s will be present on the jobsite at all times.
• Communicator
The role of the communicator is to maintain contact with appropriate emergency services
and to provide as much information as possible, such as the number injured, the type and
extent of injuries, and the exact location of the accident scene. The communicator will be
located as close to the scene as possible to transmit to the emergency care providers any
additional instructions that may be given by emergency services personnel en route.
• Site Supervisor
The site supervisor will survey and assess existing and potential hazards, evacuate
personnel as needed, and contain the hazard. Follow up responsibilities include replacing
or repairing damaged equipment, documenting the incident, and notifying appropriate
personnel/agencies.
3.0 Emergency Response Procedures
This Emergency Response Plan covers a number of events that may occur at the Project site by
natural causes, equipment failure or by human mistake. The following is a list of potential
events:
• Minor injuries;
• Major injuries;
• Fire or explosion; and
• Project evacuation.
The primary responder for these events is the ECP who will be supported by the site supervisor.
3.1 Minor Injuries
If a minor medical incident occurs (small cuts, abrasions, etc.) personnel should:
• Perform first aid, as necessary; and
• Consult the accident/injury reporting procedure to report the incident to the appropriate
personnel.
3.2 Major Injuries
If a medical emergency exists, including the need for hospitalization or emergency
services, personnel should:
• Contact the designated site supervisor;
• Consult the emergency phone number list and request assistance immediately;
• Perform first aid/CPR, as needed;
• Stabilize the injured; decontaminate if necessary, and extricate only if the environment
of the injured/ill person is dangerous or unsafe and if the rescuers are appropriately
protected from potential hazards that might be encountered during the rescue;
• Communicate directly with the 911 operators to determine the most appropriate way to
transfer the injured person to the hospital;
• When site emergency services personnel arrive, communicate all first aid activities that
have occurred;
• Transfer responsibility for the care of the injured/ill to the site emergency care
providers; and
• Consult the accident/injury reporting procedure to report the incident to the appropriate
personnel.
• Enfield Volunteer Fire Company is not responsible for any rescue activity at heights in
relation to wind turbines. This is performed by Project staff trained in turbine rescue.
Ambulance service would be provided by whichever ambulance Tompkins County
Dispatch sends.
3.3 Fire or Explosion
Turbine operations will be monitored 24 hours/day by a remote operations center in
Schenectady, NY. Permanent on-site maintenance crew is not anticipated. However, a local
project manager will be available on-call in case of emergency. Effective human intervention at
the time of a fire or explosion at the site of a wind turbine is often hampered by the extreme
heights of wind turbine nacelles. The towers are designed with internal fire suppression systems
that will automatically activate if a fire escapes the nacelle. In the event that a fire escapes the
nacelle, personnel should:
Notify Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response to make them aware of the
situation; and
Use onsite water access points to saturate the ground to prevent spreading;
• Allow the tower to “burn-out”;
• Consult the accident/injury reporting procedure to report the incident to the appropriate
personnel.
Maintenance and ancillary buildings will meet all federal, state and local building and safety
codes. This includes the presence of fire emergency equipment, such as fire alarms (pull boxes)
and fire extinguishers. Building evacuation procedures will also be established and posted in
easily visible areas. In the event of a fire, personnel should:
• Use fire alarms to initiate building evacuation procedures;
• Call 911 to notify Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response
• Use onsite fire extinguishers to contain the fire, within reason
Enfield Volunteer Fire Company is not responsible for firefighting activities on any portion of
wind turbines. A fire in the nacelle is allowed to burn out by itself, as it cannot be fought from the
ground. Local fire professionals are responsible for keeping the public at a safe distance, and
ensuring no ground fires start from any falling debris. This approach is consistent with that taken
by wind projects across New York State and the US generally.