"Class action to be launched against Powercor over south-west Victorian bushfire", 22 Mar 2018

Lawyers are planning a class action against power company Powercor over at least one of the...devastating bushfires in south-west Victoria...Up to 18 houses were destroyed in the fires along with 52 sheds, and at least 14,000 hectares of land was burnt...In the report released by Victoria Police...the Garvoc fire is said to have been caused by a power pole snapping in high winds and falling onto the ground...The report found the Gazette fire started when a tree in a bluegum plantation fell onto powerlines.  The Camperdown-Bullen Merri fire was also started by a tree limb falling on powerlines and bringing them to the ground.  The report also found the Terang-Cobden fire was the result of powerlines clashing in high winds, causing electrical arcs and igniting the surrounding vegetation...Victoria's emergency management commissioner... also confirmed the blazes were not sparked by lightning, but power assets...Powercor conceded the Garvoc fire may have started from one of its power poles...Lawyers will meet affected residents...and plan to issue proceedings for a class action once enough evidence has been gathered...