Issue Date: -
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
Toodyay Wildfire Electrical Incident report released
Energy industry safety regulator EnergySafety has released its Electrical Incident Report on the wildfire of Saturday February 3, 2007 near Chatcup Road, Toodyay, with findings showing that clashing conductors of a Western Power 22,000 volt power line caused the fire.
Director of Energy Safety Albert Koenig said today that EnergySafety had worked with Western Power, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) and the WA Police Service to investigate the incident.
“EnergySafety investigated the fire and found a short circuit fault had resulted from conductors clashing on a Western Power 22kV overhead power line north of Toodyay,” Mr Koenig said. “However, the reason for the clashing hasn’t yet been determined.
“In the strong gusty winds the red phase conductor and the underslung earth conductor made direct contact with each other, short circuiting and dropping hot metal particles, igniting dry stubble underneath the power line.
“What is significant is that this power line is of a construction that is different to other power lines that in recent times have caused wildfires due to conductor clashing".
Mr Koenig said that further major engineering investigations will be required by Western Power, in conjunction with EnergySafety , to assess and determine what action needs to be taken to prevent other incidents of this type.
The Electrical Incident Report on the power line fault and wildfire near Chatcup Road Toodyay is now available here.
Media contact: Stephanie Slanzi, Director Communications DOCEP 9327 8654 or 0407447304.