Third wind turbine failure in North Fork Ridge Wind Farm, Barton County, Mo.
KOAM 24/7 News|Shannon Becker|Aug 3, 2026
The North Fork Ridge Wind Farm in Barton County, Missouri, has experienced three separate wind turbine failures over the past three years, with the most recent incident occurring on July 31, 2026. No injuries were reported in any of the events. Liberty Utilities is actively securing the site and prioritizing community and employee safety while assessing the situation.
The North Fork Ridge Wind Farm in Barton County, Missouri, has experienced three separate wind turbine failures over the past three years, with the most recent incident occurring on July 31, 2026. No injuries were reported in any of the events. Liberty Utilities is actively securing the site and prioritizing community and employee safety while assessing the situation.
There were no injuries in any of the three events that occurred separately over the past three years
BARTON COUNTY, Mo. (KOAM/KJFX) — About noon Friday locals tell us they heard a wind turbine collapse in the North Fork Ridge Wind Farm.
- November 2023 wind turbine struck by lightning on the west side of Highway 43 in North Fork Ridge Wind Farm. Two blades came off the turbine.
- January 2024 massive collapse of wind turbine north of Hwy 126, west of State Route O. The blades and base all collapsed into a pile of debris.
- Friday, July 31, 2026 Wind Turbine failure on SE 50th east of Hwy 43.
Liberty Utilities have the site secured from the collapse on Friday. There is no trespassing on the property and the collapse isn't completely visible from …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]There were no injuries in any of the three events that occurred separately over the past three years
BARTON COUNTY, Mo. (KOAM/KJFX) — About noon Friday locals tell us they heard a wind turbine collapse in the North Fork Ridge Wind Farm.
- November 2023 wind turbine struck by lightning on the west side of Highway 43 in North Fork Ridge Wind Farm. Two blades came off the turbine.
- January 2024 massive collapse of wind turbine north of Hwy 126, west of State Route O. The blades and base all collapsed into a pile of debris.
- Friday, July 31, 2026 Wind Turbine failure on SE 50th east of Hwy 43.
Liberty Utilities have the site secured from the collapse on Friday. There is no trespassing on the property and the collapse isn't completely visible from the surrounding roadways. We were able to see the entrance door at the base of the wind turbine. It had broken off and all blades were down on the ground.
"We are aware of an incident involving a wind tower at our North Fork Ridge Wind Farm in a rural area in Barton County. Crews are working to secure the site for safety. No individuals were near the site at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported. We are assessing the situation and will provide additional details as they become available. The safety of our community members and employees is always Liberty’s first priority."
The North Fork Ridge Wind Farm was completed in early 2021. It has 69 wind turbines about 400-feet tall. With the extended blade taking it to about 600-feet tall.