IAG has launched legal action against Western Power and contractor Thiess Services over the January 2014 bushfire in the Perth Hills area of Western Australia which destroyed more than 50 buildings.

The bushfire started in Parkerville before spreading to Stoneville and Mount Helena and burning through 650 hectares. According to the Insurance Council of Australia, more than 300 claims were lodged with estimated insurance losses of $15 million.

IAG lodged its action in the Supreme Court of Western Australia last week against three defendants: Western Power, Thiess Services and Noreen Campbell, the landowner of the property from which the blaze commenced.

“The writ has been lodged for us to seek recovery of the losses suffered by us and our customers as a result of the Parkerville bushfire. We’re funding the recovery action that will assist our customers to seek recovery of any uninsured losses,” an IAG spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

The action has been launched on behalf of 183 IAG customers.