Xcel Energy facilities “appear to have been involved in igniting” the massive wildfire that has been burning across the Texas Panhandle since last month, the company said in a statement Thursday.
The utility did not provide additional details about how it reached its decision, but said it was based on “currently available information.”
“Xcel Energy alleges that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure. We encourage you to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process,” the statement said.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said Thursday that investigators believe the Smokehouse Creek Fire (the largest in state history, burning well over 1 million acres) and the Windy Deuce fire were caused by fallen power lines igniting the fire. It was announced that the decision had been made.
The Forest Service did not say whether the power line that started the fire belonged to Xcel Energy.
The ongoing Smokehouse Creek Fire is the largest fire in state history, burning more than 1,059,570 acres, according to the Forest Service. Two people died in the fire, and authorities estimate that 500 structures were destroyed as a result.
As of Thursday morning, the Forest Service reported the fire was 74% contained and two adjacent fires were still burning. The nearby Grape Vine Creek Fire is 96% contained, and the Windy Deuce Fire is 89% contained.
Compensation claims submitted to Xcel Energy will be processed quickly, with priority given to those who lost their homes in the fire, the company said.
In recent years, power companies have been blamed for causing massive wildfires in both Hawaii and California. Last year, residents filed a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric Co., alleging years of negligence and failing to shut off the power system before high winds hit Maui.
According to the Associated Press, Hawaiian Electric acknowledged that a power line that went out on August 8 caused the fire. Firefighters declared the fire extinguished and left the scene, but a second wildfire broke out and spread to the city of Lahaina, killing at least 101 people, according to the utility company.
California's Pacific Gas & Electric Co. paid $13.5 billion to wildfire victims in 2019 after residents filed lawsuits against the company over four deadly fires in three years. agreed to pay damages in the amount of $. Fires subject to settlements include the 2015 Butte Fire, 2016 Ghost Ship Fire, 2017 Tubbs Fire, and 2018 Camp Fire.
