Electricity Fire Notifiable Accidents
[ Last Updated 3 May 2010 ]
This is the list of the 8 electricity fire notifiable accidents for which the investigation was completed between October to December 2009.
1 - Event summary: The Fire Service attended a switchboard fire within a college. This event resulted in the school being closed for half a day. The fire was contained within the main switch located on the main switchboard supplying power to the college.
| Event ID |
090818 01 |
| Event date |
4/08/2009 |
| Site |
Commercial |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
400 |
| Equipment |
Switch/distribution board |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
No property damage |
| Outcome of investigation |
The main switch was replaced and sent to the manufacturer for analysis into the cause. The manufacturer’s examination established the failure to be on the cable attachment point due to the use of steel washers. Other concerns were also raised with the installation methods within the main switchboard. These related to worker competencies which have been referred to the Electrical Workers Licensing Group for their consideration. |
2 - Event summary: The Fire Service attended a fire involving a Heat Transfer System.
| Event ID |
090826 03 |
| Event date |
26/08/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
230 |
| Equipment |
Heat pumps; air conditioners; dehumidifiers |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
The fire was confined to the motor unit and no external damage was reported. An audit of a similar unit was carried out and the unit was found to be compliant. |
3 - Event summary: The Fire Service attended a switchboard fire in a garage which was attached to a house. The fire damage was contained to the wall where the switchboard was located.
| Event ID |
090830 01 |
| Event date |
30/08/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
230 |
| Equipment |
Switch/distribution board |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
The Fire Service contracted an independent fire cause investigator. The investigator determined that the switchboard fire appeared to be caused through a loose connection to a terminal on the main switch, which was located on the main switchboard. The electrical installation was over 15 years old and appears it may have worked itself loose with the natural movement within a house. This type of incident highlights the need for home owners to maintain their electrical installation with a regular inspection by a competently registered electrical person. |
4 - Event summary: A house fire resulted in the fatality of an elderly woman. Initial reports suggest that an electric blanket fault was considered to be the likely cause of the fire.
| Event ID |
090922 01 |
| Event date |
20/09/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
230 |
| Equipment |
Blankets; Pads |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
Fatality |
| Injury |
Asphyxiation |
| Property damage level |
Extended to multiple rooms |
| Outcome of investigation |
An investigation could not determine from the available evidence certain proof of cause, however circumstantial evidence indicates the fire was caused by the failure of an old electric blanket, of unknown origin. |
5 - Event summary: A large barn was completely destroyed by fire resulting in a fatality.
| Event ID |
091104 01 |
| Event date |
03/11/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
230 |
| Equipment |
Fixed general purpose |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
Fatality |
| Injury |
Asphyxiation |
| Property damage level |
Extended to the site |
| Outcome of investigation |
An investigation into cause of this fatal fire found that a lamp holder on a light fitting may have melted, causing burning plastic to fall onto paper files on a table which ignited and caused the fire. The barn contained a high fuel load with petrol, paint cans and an LPG bottle which enabled the fire to spread rapidly to adjacent buildings. The fire razed the building to the ground. |
6 - Event summary: Fire in substation switchgear following work on network.
| Event ID |
091110 02 |
| Event date |
06/11/2009 |
| Site |
Commercial |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
11000 |
| Equipment |
Switch/distribution board |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
The fire was caused by a fault in an old 11,000 volt switch. The switchgear was examined but the fault could not be identified. |
7 - Event summary: A fire occurred in a domestic laundry, involving an extractor fan.
| Event ID |
091109 01 |
| Event date |
08/11/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
230 |
| Equipment |
Fans |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the direct vicinity of the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
The Fire Service attended the scene where a person had suffered from smoke inhalation. On investigation it was found that the fan that faulted was an older type metal extractor fan. The make and model were not visible. The exact cause of the fault could not be determined. |
8 - Event summary: The Fire Service attended a fire in a bathroom.
| Event ID |
091113 01 |
| Event date |
13/11/2009 |
| Site |
Domestic |
| Environment |
Building |
| Voltage |
230 |
| Equipment |
Room Heaters; Fan heaters; Radiant Heaters; Oil Fin |
| Event |
Fire |
| Casualty |
No casualty |
| Injury |
No injury |
| Property damage level |
Restricted to the room containing the equipment |
| Outcome of investigation |
On investigation it was found that the bathroom heater was switched on and left to heat the bathroom. Ten minutes later the occupant was alerted to the fire by a sounding smoke alarm. The Fire Service found the bathroom heater on the floor nearly completely destroyed. The occupant reported, smelling something burning near the heater a couple of days beforehand. An audit was carried out and it was found that the heater was compliant. The make and model of the heater was noted for further action should another fire occur with a similar heater. |
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