Vic: Class action into fires launched

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2009
Vic: Class action into fires launched

MELBOURNE, Feb 15 AAP - Victoria Police Chief Commission Christine Nixon says authorities
are still determining how the Kinglake bushfire started, amid reports victims have launched
legal action against the state government and a private power company over the blaze.

Angry Kinglake residents are launching a class action in the Victorian Supreme Court
against electricity provider SP Ausnet and the government, arguing a downed two-kilometre
stretch of downed power lines sparked and set fire to a nearby pine forest.

At least 100 people have been killed and more than 1,000 left homeless as a result
of fires in Kinglake and surrounding areas.

The Phoenix Taskforce, which is investigating the fires, is examining a two-kilometre
stretch of power line that collapsed last Saturday during the extreme heat, The Sunday
Age newspaper reports.

Asked to confirm police had taken the power line and a power pole as evidence, Ms Nixon
would only say police are working hard to determine how all the fires started, and described
the investigation into the Kinglake blaze as "broad".

"At this stage we are not able to confirm how it started. I understand there is some
legal action that people are taking, but at this stage we're still investigating its cause,"

Ms Nixon told the Nine Network.

"We've taken a range of evidence and we will, obviously, be working with fire authorities
about what might have caused it.

"But the whole circumstances of that fire are part of our Taskforce Phoenix, and as
we move through that we'll be able to tell the community more once we're able to confirm
or deny what we think is the cause of these fires."

The legal action "will be made on the basis of negligent management of power lines
and infrastructure," The Sunday Age quoted Slidders Lawyers partner Daniel Oldham as saying.

The Slidders Lawyers website calls for anyone who has suffered loss or damage as a
consequence of the recent bushfires to contact them.

"If you have been burnt by the recent bushfires, please register your interest using
the form below as soon as possible," the website says.

"At Slidders Lawyers, we are helping landowners and leaseholders obtain compensation
for the losses caused by these bushfires."

Comment is being sought from SP Ausnet.

AAP kb/cdh/jfm

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC LAWSUIT

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