WA's energy safety watchdog will investigate causes behind the weekend's blaze near Toodyay, including whether it could have been started by faulty electrical equipment. On Sunday, homeowners were put on an emergency warning, when a bushfire broke out just east from Toodyay, which almost spread out of control due to the blisteringly hot conditions.

The bush fire was quickly extinguished with the help of over 150 volunteer and career bush firefighters, authorities are still unsure of the actual cause of the fire. The police arson squad hasvenot been asked to investigate the fire, although it is believed EnergySafety investigators will be looking into trying to identify the cause and whether anyone is to blame.

It is unlikely that the harvest activity played an active role as the Department of Fire and Emergency Services on Sunday issued a total fire ban for shires which includes Toodyay. Investigators will be checking to see if the fire was caused by natural causes, including spontaneous combustion and lightning, which can occur when piles of hay or mulch overheat.

Among the latter group is electrical equipment failure, given the thousands of kilometres of power poles and wiresthat span the Wheatbelt and are owned by Western Power. A spokeswoman for Western Power said, “The utility was co-operating with EnergySafety, DFES among other agencies to determine the source of the blaze.”

The department has stated that it is too early to tell the cause of the fire however investigators will continue to investigate until the source is found.

David Dow, the Toodyay Shire president said, “I am keen to know what had sparked the fire, given events of recent years when a young female teacher was killed in 2007, due to 22,000-volt power lines owned by Western Power clashing and setting off an inferno.”