The Australian state of New South Wales is seeking compensation from the federal government for a huge fire that was sparked as a result of army training exercises.
The blaze – which ignited near Lithgow, east of Sydney – burned through 47,000 hectares and destroyed several homes.
The Defence Department apologised for accidentally starting the blaze, but New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell said there were a lot of questions still to be answered: “Property has been damaged, we need to settle the compensation issues. That’s one of the issues I will be discussing with the Prime Minister.
“The claim from Defence is that they were operating on a day of 22 degree temperatures with relatively light winds. But I want to see the report.”
More than 100 bushfires have erupted in New South Wales over the past week, killing one resident and destroying at least 200 homes.
Investigators are still looking into what caused all the fires.
