Two fires that destroyed almost 200 homes in parts of the Blue Mountains community in October 2013 were caused by trees falling on power lines, the NSW deputy coroner has found.
The Springwood fire, which began on Linksview Road on October 17, 2013, burned through about 3,600 hectares, destroying 194 properties and affecting 650 homes over the course of almost a month.
The Mount York Road fire began on the same day and destroyed nine properties.
The fire danger was listed as severe, with wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour.
However, no-one died.
In a 74-page report, Magistrate Fiona Toose found both fires were ignited by the arcing of electrical conductors after trees had fallen on them.
"There was fuel consisting of leaves and bark in very close proximity to the arcing," Magistrate Toose said.
"There was dry fuel on the ground directly opposite the arcing, there was strong wind blowing towards that dry fuel.
"No credible ignition source other than arcing has been identified."
Fire crews to train for electricity dangers
The deputy coroner recommended New South Wales Police, Fire and Rescue NSW, and Rural Fire Service personnel receive better training for fighting fires involving electricity, and a tightening of safety and training procedures for Endeavour Energy and associated contractors.
Magistrate Toose also recommended Endeavour Energy require its contractors to have appropriate equipment when conducting hazard reduction and bushfire inspections, and require employees to cooperate with police investigations.
"It is unrealistic to expect that those carrying out scoping and cutting … should be qualified arborists," she said.
"However, it is both desirable and sensible for those contractors to have at least basic hazard tree identification training."
The report also found the two fires were not connected to the State Mine Fire, which began the day before, but that it did draw fire-fighting resources towards Lithgow, in the state's central west.
