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.<br /><br /> The blaze – which ignited near Lithgow, east of Sydney – burned through 47,000 hectares and destroyed several homes.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br /> “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.”<br /><br /> More than 100 bushfires have erupted in New South Wales over the past week, killing one resident and destroying at least 200 homes.<br /><br /> Investigators are still looking into what caused all the fires.
