Will wild fires started by lightning be reduced by wind turbines?

Question

Lightning strikes often occur on the tops of hills and they can start fires in grass or trees.  If a row of wind turbines are built along the top of a ridge it would seem that the likelihood of wild fires would be reduced.  The wind turbines will conduct the lightning safely to ground.  (See ramblingsdc.net/Australia/WindProblems.html#Lightning_strike).

razorraul · Accepted Answer

no wind that feeds the tubine will help spread the fire from the lightning.

if there was no wind it would be better. but not for the turbines.

Anonymous · Answer

As Bruce stated wind turbines aren't built need forests. Generally the surrounding area is cleared of vegetation (or predominantly they are built in areas where there is no trees). The forest would otherwise buffer the wind and therefore the wind turbine wouldn't be as effective.

So I would suggest NO wind turbines will not reduce the number of wild fires started by lightning.

Anonymous · Answer

yes technically speaking they will as they conduct the electricity instead of it hitting  the ground. however, with the vast area of openland around the world that is capable of starting a fire via lightning, you would need a heck of a lot of turbines all over the place to make a difference.

? · Answer

As wind turbines are not built in forests, I should think the benefit minimal.

Damocles · Answer

By that reasoning, lightning rods built in those locations would do the same thing for far less cost.

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Will wild fires started by lightning be reduced by wind turbines?

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