Lighting and arson unable to be ruled out as fire causes

Summary

INVESTIGATIONS into the cause of the Mount Canobolas fire have been unable to determine a single factor.

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According to a preliminary report, the February blaze which took out more than 1600 hectares of bushland could have been deliberately lit or caused by lightning.

An RFS spokesman said arson could not be ruled out because firefighters disturbed the scene in their efforts to contain the blaze.

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“We also know there was a significant amount lightning in the area,” he said.

No houses were lost during the week-long fire, with on-scene firefighters, plant equipment and aircraft working on property protection until containment lines could be established and the blaze extinguished.

The full report will be prepared in the coming weeks, which is likely to pass back to police, but no action is expected.