Victorian Coroner Warns of Power Board Dangers After Fatal House Fire

A Victorian coroner has warned about the dangers of power boards after a fatal house fire in regional Victoria was linked to an electrical fault.

Coroner Leveasque Peterson was investigating the death of 77-year-old Carisbrook man Christopher Shaw, who died when fire tore through his Central Victorian home in the early hours of July 17, 2025.

Firefighters were called to the property about 1am, where they extinguished the blaze and discovered Mr Shaw deceased inside the house.

A forensic examination found the fire most likely began in a sunroom where several computers were plugged into power boards.

Victoria Police forensic officer Kristen Cameron identified one melted power board and another that had been destroyed in the fire.

"The pattern of burning and fire damage indicated that the fire started around the desk in the sunroom and spread to the other rooms of the house," Ms Cameron said.

Investigators determined the most likely source of ignition was an electrical fault involving a power board.

In her findings, Coroner Leveasque Peterson said the tragedy highlighted a broader safety issue facing Victorian households.

Data from the Coroners Prevention Unit identified 26 deaths since January 2015 where an electrical fault was confirmed as the source of a house fire.

In five of those cases, including Mr Shaw's, a power board was suspected or confirmed to be the source of the fault.

"Christopher's death is yet another tragic reminder of the dangers associated with electrical faults in power boards, particularly when overused or overloaded," Ms Peterson said.

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) data also painted a concerning picture, recording an average of 3.6 power-board-related fires each month between June 2024 and January 2026.

"Fires due to power boards occur indiscriminately and can have catastrophic consequences," Ms Peterson said.

The investigation found that power board fires became more common during winter, when electricity demand in homes typically increased.

FRV recorded 14 power-board-related fires during winter 2024, compared with six over the following summer.

The coroner noted that Mr Shaw's death also occurred in the middle of winter.

Energy Safe Victoria also reinforced the importance of electrical safety in the home.

In a statement to the court, Energy Safe Victoria's Michelle McCorkell urged consumers to buy electrical products from reputable suppliers.

"Purchase reputable brands from reputable suppliers and avoid suspiciously cheap products or unknown online retailers," Ms McCorkell said.

She also encouraged Victorians to regularly inspect electrical equipment and replace any damaged power boards, leads or appliances before they become a safety risk.