Toodyay fire report finds no regulations were breached
Release Date: 06 August 2007
Western Power’s investigation into the cause of a fire in Toodyay in February 2007 that led to the death of a woman fleeing the blaze has concluded that the construction of the powerlines that clashed and caused the fire did not breach national safety standards.
Western Power Managing Director Mr Doug Aberle said the outcomes of the investigation will assist the utility to refine its powerline review program and will contribute to a review of the national standards set for powerline construction.
"It is one thing to say that Western Power did not breach any safety standards, but the lines still clashed and caused a devastating fire so it is vital that Western Power and utilities around Australia now consider this new information and determine whether to propose new standards," he said.
The report concluded that the weather conditions on the day of the fire were extreme and probably unique.
"The line as built had withstood a wide range of conditions for over forty years without incident but the particular combination of temperatures over 48 degrees and very strong gusting winds appears to have caused the conductors to clash", he said.
The investigation found the section of the line which clashed was constructed with the underslung earthwire 290mm closer to the above live conductors when compared to other sections of the line.
"The distance between the conductors were well within the national standards of the day and also the present standards, but the investigation found that the closer distance between the earthwire and live conductors was probably a contributing cause of the conductors clashing.
"When this line was constructed, most lines were built with a greater separation between the earthwire and the live conductors. The investigation did not find why this section of the line was built with a higher than usual earthwire.
"Western Power will now survey all lines to identify whether this construction was used in other parts of the network and alter the earthwire height on those sections if similar structures are located," he said.
Mr Aberle said although the investigation into the fire did not make any findings that supported a view that Western Power was negligent (and therefore legally liable), the business felt a sense of moral responsibility to engage with the affected farmers and the Mack family whose daughter Michelle died in a car crash while fleeing the blaze to see if it were possible to find some way to recognise and alleviate their loss. Those discussions are taking place on a confidential basis.
"It is clear from the investigations into the blaze that clashing powerlines caused this fire and whilst there is nothing to suggest that Western Power was negligent, I feel morally obliged to seek to find some way to recognise and alleviate the hardship of those who have suffered loss," Mr Aberle said.
Pictorial view
Pictorial view of powerline that caused the fire in Toodyay. The attachment shows the actual seperations v seperations required by National Standards
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