Services

Roger Fenwick Expert Witness experience.

(Year, Location, Action & Issues. Aspects of expertise involved. Result.)

2020

Stirling, WA. Report on the conduct of a burnoff and subsequent escape of fire causing damage. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of hazard reduction activities. Ongoing.

Armidale, NSW. Report on the adequacy of fire fighting activities in relation to damage to private property by an escaped fire initiated by lightning within a National Park. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Ongoing.

Guyra, NSW. Advise on possible alternative causes of an allegedly illegally lit burnoff fire. Discontinued.

Dunalley, Tas. Advise on fire causation involving fire damage to adjoining property following an escape from a barbecue. Ongoing.

Sherwood, SA. Report on fire causation involving an electric fence. Safe conduct of rural activities. Ongoing.

Ballarat, Vic. Advise on conduct of escaped burnoff. Safe conduct of rural activities. Ongoing.

2016

Wingfield SA. Report on possible causation of a fire beside a railway line. Fire causation and behaviour, and adequacy of fire preparedness. Settled.

Griffith, NSW. Report on the conduct of a rubbish disposal fire which escaped and caused damage. Safe conduct of rural activities. Ongoing.

2015

Springwood, NSW. Advise on possible causation of a fire in the
Blue Mountains. Fire behaviour. Settled.

2014

Springdale, NSW. Report on the probable cause of a fire and the adequacy of firefighting activities on private property. At issue is the damage caused by a secondary fire resulting from a rekindle of the initial fire. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Ongoing.

Dolphin Sands, Tas. Advised on the implications of evidence led by Plaintiff in relation to the origin of a bushfire. At issue was whether fire originated from the Defendant's property. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Settled, with a verdict for Defendant

Chinchilla, Qland. Report on the probable cause of a fire which damaged structures. At issue is whether the fire originated from a sawmill burn pit managed by the Defendant. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Ongoing

2013

Parrakie, SA. Report on the adequacy of fire preparedness and fire fighting activities in relation to damage to private property by an escaped fire initiated by lightning within a National Park. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Ongoing

Winton, Qland Report on the activities of a contractor who is alleged to have started a grassfire while operating a grader on adjacent land. At issue is whether the activity and the manner in which it was conducted was foreseeably unsafe. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Ongoing

2012

Powranna, Tas Investigate the probable cause of a fire with damaged rural infrastructure and earthmoving equipment on adjoining land. At issue was whether fire originated from burning out of log heaps some time ago, or a separate ignition. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Pending

Brickworks, ACT Investigate the probable cause of a fire which destroyed houses beside a Government-owned heritage facility, and report on the adequacy of the measures taken to protect adjoining properties. Fire preparedness. Ongoing.

Dolphin Sands, Tas Report on a fire which destroyed several houses. At issue is whether the fire originated from a prior burnoff or separate ignition(s). Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Ongoing

Port Lincoln, SA. Report on the probable cause of destruction by fire of a freezer facility exposed to grassfire alleged to have been initiated by a power transformer fault. At issue was the source of the mechanism by which the structure ignited – proximate flames, or embers from afar. Fire behaviour and adequacy of construction standards and other preparedness. Settled.

Roleystone, WA Retained to report on issues of negligence in relation to an escaped fire outside Perth, WA. Settled.

2011

ACT Advised on implications of evidence led by State authorities in relation to the conduct of fire fighting operations during the Canberra 2003 bushfires. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Judgement, under appeal.

Bright, Vic Prepared a report on the compliance of a proposed subdivision with local planning regulations. At issue was the proximity of houses to manage forest and future logging operations. Fire behaviour and adequacy of construction standards and other preparedness. Settled

Waubra, Vic Report on the probable cause of a fire which burnt adjacent houses, rural infrastructure, and (indirectly) caused injury to a firefighter. At issue was whether the source of fire was a prior burnoff, or separate ignition. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Settled.

Kununurra, WA Report on the adequacy of protection measures for participants in a cross-country athletic event in northern WA. Fire behaviour. Pending.

2010

ACT Gave evidence in the ACT Supreme Court in relation to the conduct of fire fighting operations during the Canberra 2003 bushfires.

2009

Berrybank, Vic Reported on and gave evidence to a Tribunal in relation to construction of a proposed wind farm in western Victoria. At issue was the ability to conduct fire fighting activities without aerial support in an area with restricted ground access. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Approved.

2004

South Coast, NSW Reported on the conduct of fire fighting operations in relation to three major fires along coastal NSW. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Action withdrawn.

St Marys, Tas Reported on the conduct of the burning of a heap which allegedly caused destruction by fire of a nearby structure. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Settled.

2003

ACT Retained to prepare substantial reports on the conduct of fire fighting operations by ACT & NSW authorities in relation to the 2003 Canberra bushfire.

South Coast, NSW Attended Coronial Enquiries concerning three major fires in coastal NSW.

2002

Queensland Report on fire causation in relation to fire which caused damage to rural infrastructure. At issue was whether ignition was from a locomotive exhaust or another source. Fire behaviour. Settled

2000

Wingello, NSW Report on the conduct of fire fighting operations in which firefighter death and injuries occurred. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Settled.

1999

Tenterfield, NSW Report on the conduct of a burnoff alleged to have caused damage to rural infrastructure on nearby land. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Action withdrawn.

1998

Cootamundra, NSW Report on the conduct of farming activities alleged to have started a grassfire that caused damage to rural infrastructure on nearby land. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Settled.

1996

Binalong, NSW Report on and give evidence in relation to the conduct of farming activities alleged to have started a grassfire that caused damage to rural infrastructure on nearby land. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Judgement.

1994

Bungendore, NSW Report on the conduct of farming activities alleged to have started a grassfire that caused damage to rural infrastructure on nearby land. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Settled.

1993

Condobolin, NSW Report on and give evidence concerning the conduct of farming activities alleged to have started a grassfire that caused damage to rural infrastructure on nearby land. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Judgement.

1992

Cooma, NSW the conduct of roadside burning off resulting in smoke obscuring the view of traffic and resulting injuries. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Judgement.

Scone NSW Report on and give evidence in relation to the cause of fire which destroyed houses and rural infrastructure. Fire behaviour. Judgement.

1990

Goulburn NSW Report on the conduct of fire fighting activities in the course of which a pine plantation was destroyed. Fire behaviour and fire control operations. Settled.

1984

Stirling, SA Report on the cause of fire which led to extensive property damage. At issue was whether damage resulted from the Stirling fire, another ignition, or whether the other ignition arose from the Stirling fire. Fire behaviour. Judgement.

Deloraine, Tas Report on the case of fire that caused damage to logging equipment. Fire behaviour and safe conduct of rural activities. Settled.