TWO years on since a fire burnt through 5000 hectares from Yorketown and Edithburgh and a settlement has been reached to compensate those impacted. In November 2021, the Supreme Court of SA approved a settlement reached in the Yorketown Bushfire Class Action, issued by Maddens Lawyers against SA Power Networks. It was alleged that the fire started as a result of a failure of high voltage electrical assets on Stansbury Road in Yorketown operated by SAPN. Lead plaintiff, Carlos Cardoso's home and all of his possessions were destroyed in the fire, while 11 properties, hundreds of hectares of crop and hundreds of livestock were either damaged or lost in the fire. SAPN has paid $2.25 million in respect of the claims made by the lead plaintiff and each of the seven participating group members that were impacted by the fire. RELATED READING: Blaze burns through border communities RELATED READING: Post-fire funds for families distributed Maddens Lawyers Principal Kathryn Emeny said the money compensated group members for the uninsured losses they suffered in the fire. "It's rare to encounter a fire victim who is fully insured for the total extent of their losses," she said. "That's a reflection of the incredible extent of damage that major bushfire events cause. The Yorketown fire is no different." The amount of compensation received by each participant differs depending upon the nature and extent of the loss they suffered in the fire. Maddens Lawyers is actively advancing class action proceedings on behalf of impacted property owners arising out of the January 11, 2021, Lucindale fire and the December 20, 2019, Cudlee Creek fire.