BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FRIDAY, MAY 20TH 2016

PRIMM, Nev. (AP) — A small fire shut down a generating tower at the world's largest solar-thermal power plant, leaving the sprawling facility on the California-Nevada border operating at only a third of its capacity, authorities said.

Firefighters had to climb some 300 feet up a boiler tower at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California after the fire was reported on an upper level around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, fire officials said.

The plant uses mirrors to focus sunlight on boilers at the top of three 459-foot towers, creating steam that drive turbines to produce electricity.

But some misaligned mirrors instead focused sunbeams on a different level of Unit 3, causing electrical cables to catch fire, San Bernardino County Fire Capt. Mike McClintock said.

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