Inquiry into the Fire at Springwood NSW 17 October 2013? And the Fire at Mt Victoria NSW 17 October 2013
Finding date
2018-05
AI-generated summary
Two major bushfires started on 17 October 2013 in the Blue Mountains, NSW, following electrical arcing when trees contacted power conductors. The Springwood fire burned 3,623 hectares and destroyed 194 properties, while the Mount Victoria fire burned 9,076 hectares and destroyed 9 properties, causing approximately $200 million in damage with no loss of life. The coroner found that both fires resulted from electrical arcing caused by tree impact. Critically, both trees displayed signs of structural defects and decay that should have been detected through adequate vegetation management programs. Endeavour Energy's vegetation management contractors lacked sufficient training and equipment, particularly a sounding hammer, to properly identify hazard trees. Additionally, there was considerable confusion in contractual specifications regarding contractor obligations. Key coroner recommendations included clarifying vegetation management requirements, providing hazard tree identification training, improving fire investigation protocols, establishing disaster victim registration systems, and enhancing emergency services training regarding safe operations near electrical infrastructure.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Electrical arcing from tree contact with power conductors
- Inadequate vegetation management and hazard tree identification
- Insufficient training of vegetation management contractors in hazard tree assessment
- Lack of clarity in Endeavour Energy specifications regarding contractor obligations
- Structural defects in trees not detected by inspection programs
- Severe fire weather conditions with strong winds and high fire danger rating
Coroner's recommendations
- Endeavour Energy to revise policies, procedures and contracts to clarify expectations of Endeavour Energy and obligations of contractors carrying out work under the Vegetation Management Program and Pre Summer Bush Fire Inspection Program
- Endeavour Energy to require contractors to ensure persons carrying out scoping work have received appropriate training and equipment including a sounding hammer or rubber mallet and training in the use of that equipment
- NSW Police Commissioner to provide personal protective equipment and basic training in the use of that equipment to police officers in bush fire prone areas
- NSW Police Commissioner to establish a working party with relevant government and non-government organisations to develop a Disaster Victim Registration system
- Fire & Rescue NSW Commissioner to consider providing further instruction and training to firefighters regarding safe methods of operation when fighting fires in proximity to electricity
- Rural Fire Service Commissioner to consider providing further instruction and training to firefighters, including volunteers, regarding safe methods of operation when fighting fires in proximity to electricity
- Steps to be taken to ensure the next review of the interagency Fire Investigation Protocol includes development or improvement of interagency protocols for investigation of major fires including those in which electrical assets may be implicated
- Endeavour Energy to introduce or revise policies requiring employees and contractors to cooperate with emergency services in fire investigations and to liaise with emergency services to develop a memorandum of understanding regarding its role in fire investigations
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