Molten metal spurting from a circuit breaker on an electricity pole near Hall and a subsequent bushfire, was reported on page one of the Canberra Times 41 years ago.
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It has caused the worst bushfire in the ACT, according the Canberra Coroner.
The fire began near pole number 6847 on Crown land near the Sunny Corner property on the Barton Highway when an expulsion drop-out fuse operated, resulting in molten metal falling on and igniting grass beneath the power pole.
Buildings and fences had been extensively damaged, stock killed and injured and grazing land destroyed.
Several witnesses noted that the fuse had operated because it was hanging down off the 11,000-volt power lines.
Evidence had shown that the lines had not been serviced for almost three years to the day of the fire. It was an "inescapable conclusion" that the operation of the fuse had caused the fire.
Evidence had been given that no person or vehicles had been in the vicinity of the pole.
The gate into the property was padlocked.
There was also evidence that similar fires in Victoria were caused by the same sort of fuse operating.
