S'pore Power sued over fire Suit claims company failed to maintain an ageing line which fell, sparking deadly blaze
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It was the deadliest blaze of 'Black Saturday', Australia's worst natural disaster, claiming 119 lives. Legal firm Maurice Blackburn said the suit could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. -- PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE - VICTIMS of Australia's deadly 2009 firestorm have launched legal action against a Singapore power firm, alleging that poorly maintained electrical wires sparked the blaze, reports said on Saturday. Lawyers representing almost 600 people lodged a class-action suit in Victoria's Supreme Court against Singapore Power for allegedly failing to maintain an ageing line, which fell and started the Feb 7 fire at Kilmore East.
It was the deadliest blaze of 'Black Saturday', Australia's worst natural disaster, claiming 119 lives. Legal firm Maurice Blackburn said the suit could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.'We have heard strong evidence at the Royal Commission (into the fires) that Singapore Power could have taken a number of steps to prevent the devastating Kilmore East- Kinglake bush fire,' firm chairman Bernard Murphy told The Age newspaper.
'Electricity distribution companies are commercial enterprises that have a responsibility to ensure that public safety is not compromised simply in order to keep costs down. Singapore Power's failures have had very tragic consequences.'The action currently has 598 plaintiffs but this could grow to as many as 1,300, including people who lost family members in the fire, suffered physical injuries and lost property, or have ongoing psychological damage, The Age said.
The suit will allege that Singapore Power failed to fit a A$10 (S$12) anti-vibration device to guard against metal fatigue and that the circuit-breaker system was not adequate for a dry, windy, fire-prone area. The 1.1-kilometre single-strand line, one of the longest in Victoria, was checked only every five years and rust and wire deterioration could not be detected by ground crews, the case will also claim. -- AFP
Singapore Power says it's not a defendant in lawsuit over Australian bushfire
Singapore Power says it's not a defendant in lawsuit over Australian bushfire
Posted: 19 June 2010 1031 hrs
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A remembrance service of mourning in Melbourne to mark the first anniversary of the 2009 Black Saturday fires which killed 173 </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td class="update"></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Singapore Power has clarified that it is not the defendant in a lawsuit relating to the 2009 Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire in Australia.
In a statement released on Saturday, SP AusNet, which is 51% owned by Singapore Power, said the defendant in the bushfire proceedings is SPI Electricity Pty Ltd, its electricity distribution operating company.
SP AusNet added that while court proceedings are in progress, it would be inappropriate for it to discuss the matter.
The Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire was one of the bushfires which affected the
Australian state of Victoria in February 2009.
Victims of deadly firestorm have launched legal action against SPI Electricity, alleging poorly-maintained electrical wires sparked the blaze, reports said.
Lawyers representing almost 600 people lodged a class action in Victoria's Supreme Court against SPI Electricity for allegedly failing to maintain an ageing line, which fell and started the February 7 fire at Kilmore East.
It was the deadliest blaze of "Black Saturday", Australia's worst natural disaster, claiming 119 of the 173 lives lost.
Legal firm Maurice Blackburn said the suit could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. - CNA/AFP/jy/ls
