There were bad bush fires here last week and a lot of property was damaged and someone died in our small community. I heard from a friend that sometimes there can be an inquest to find out the cause of the fire, the damage and how people came to die. Is this right? Can a coroner look into the whole circumstances of the bushfire?
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Answer by Kate Dodgson, Brisbane 4000 QLD
- Yes. There can be a coronial investigation into a bushfire when property is significantly damaged and lives have been lost.
- For example there was a major inquest into the 2003 ACT bushfires. In this case the coroner conducted an inquiry into all the circumstances surrounding the fires that destroyed and damaged property in the ACT. It also investigated the deaths of four people who died in the fires.
- There was also an inquest into the Black Saturday fires in Victoria in 2009.
- If you want to find out what is happening in your case you could speak to someone at the police station who is investigating the bushfire to see if it has been reported to the coroner.
- If you are concerned then you may also find it useful to speak to a lawyer.