SA Power Networks not at fault despite being source of Cudlee Creek and Yorketown fires
The devastating bushfires at Cudlee Creek and Yorketown each began from powerline equipment. But an inquiry has cleared distributor SA Power Networks of doing anything wrong.
SA News
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Bushfires in the Adelaide Hills and Yorke Peninsula were ignited by SA Power Networks equipment, but the company was not at fault, a government inquiry has concluded.
The Hills fire started near Snake Gully Rd, Cudlee Creek, when a 24m tall plantation forest pine tree fell onto a powerline.
The government investigation found the tree was well beyond the prescribed clearance zone and that it “could not identify any indicators that could have enabled a reasonable person to identify this tree failure prior to the event”.
At Yorketown, high-speed winds on the day broke lose a line connected to a transformer, which then arced and led to globs of hot molten metal falling to the ground and igniting dry grass.
While there was corrosion evident the inquiry found SA Power Networks had met its required maintenance and that “no defects were known prior to the fire”.
SA Power Networks welcomed the findings of the inquiry which was conducted by the Energy and Mining Department’s technical office.
“We understand the impact bushfire can have on individuals and communities, so we are always working to minimise the risk of our infrastructure being involved in fire starts and are recognised nationally in our industry for our bushfire risk-minimisation program,” spokesman Paul Roberts said.
“However, in catastrophic or extreme fire conditions evidence shows there is a very real risk of fire starts involving electricity infrastructure and, due to a range of triggers including tree falls and unexpected equipment failure, fires regrettably do occur.”
The more comprehensive SA bushfire review, led by former commissioner of the Australian Federal Police Mick Keelty, specifically excluded examination of the role, if any, of SA Power Networks but did say its equipment was the ignition point.
The Keelty review, published in July, found the Cudlee Creek fire started at 9.17am on December 20 and spread rapidly through the Adelaide Hills.
It caused one death, injuries to 51 firefighters, 98 homes destroyed, 542 non-residential buildings destroyed or damaged, nearly 4000 livestock killed and 23,253ha burnt.
The Yorketown fire began on November 20, 2019, on a day of Catastrophic Fire Risk.
The fast-moving grass and cropping fire was eventually contained the following night after burning eight dwellings, 11 sheds and 6,694ha of mostly private property and farmland.
Carlos Cardoso and Rhona Maguire, whose house was destroyed at Yorketown, are involved in a class action by Maddens Lawyers against SAPN.
“I’m not surprised,” Mr Cardoso said of the new findings.
However, he hoped the class action would continue so they could be compensated for their loss.
The new government report noted that SAPN has the authority to disconnect power because of fire danger and that such a decision can be made without incurring liability for the loss of power to consumers or business.
However, that decision would only be made if conditions meet a checklist including weather, district rating and fire danger level.
At Yorketown, “the conditions required to pre‐emptively disconnect the feeder were not met”, so power was not switched off.
SAPN must also follow regulated formulae for how it keeps powerlines clear of trees and other vegetation.
Clearance zones vary according to conditions, including voltage of the line, span distance between poles and localised bushfire district ratings.
In the Cudlee Creek case, the base of the tree was some 6.8m from the line in a site where the clearance zone extended 1.77m.
SAPN is reviewing disconnection guidelines and clearance issues, particularly in anticipation of longer heatwaves.
The CSIRO is involved in the review.
The government report noted that clearance regulations are due to expire in September 2021.
“Any review and changes to the regulations will strongly focus on mitigation of the risk of bushfires that may start when vegetation contacts high voltage powerlines,” it said.