Crews Practice Rescuing Workers From Wind Turbine

Everpower plans to bring in 25 more wind turbines near its Highland Windfarm in Adams Township. With that expansion comes a possibility of injury, and that's what the Johnstown Technical Rescue Crew, Adams Township firefighters and Everpower crews are hoping to avoid.

On Wednesday, crews were at the wind farm practicing how to rescue workers from 268 feet in the air.

Everpower's Bradly Foy said the equipment is loaded in a stretcher and hoisted up by a pulley system on the outside of the turbine. Then the injured worker is lowered the exact same way.

Johnstown Technical Rescue Team Leader Bob Statler said they've wanted to train at the Highland Wind Farm for some time. Now Wednesday they finally got a chance.

This training comes after the announcement of the expansion project and an incident where a worker atop a turbine was shot at. That investigation is still ongoing.

Previous Stories: July 27, 2010: Everpower Wind Turbine Project Expanding In Adams Township July 27, 2010: Residents Learn About Home Wind Turbines For Personal Use June 26, 2010: Wind Turbine Attack Case Needs Tips June 1, 2010: Reward To Be Offered For Info In Wind Turbine Shooting April 22, 2010: Gamesa Proposes New Area Wind Farm July 16, 2009: Oversized Trucks Haul Wind Turbine Parts Through Small Cambria County Town May 20, 2009: Somerset Co. Residents Says No To Wind Turbines May 16, 2009: Somerset County ATV Resort Making Room For New Wind Farm January 23, 2009: Some Highland Wind Project Turbines Go Live November 14, 2008: Wind Turbine Factory Looks To Expand; Going Green Proves Profitable For Gamesa