The massive wildfires burning across the Texas Panhandle that killed two people, destroyed hundreds of homes, and killed thousands of livestock were caused by power lines, officials announced on March 7.
Texas A&M Forest Service investigators have concluded that power lines ignited the Smokehouse Creek fire as well as the nearby Windy Deuce fire.
On March 7, utility provider Xcel Energy acknowledged that its equipment appears to have played a role in sparking the Smokehouse Creek fire, which started on Feb. 26 and grew into the largest blaze in state history.
However, according to the Minnesota-based company, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the Windy Deuce fire that impacted numerous structures in and around Fritch, northeast of Amarillo, Texas.
“Xcel does not believe that its facilities caused the ignition of the Windy Deuce fire, and we are not aware of any allegation that Xcel Energy’s facilities caused this fire,” the company stated.
The Smokehouse Creek fire has scorched 1,059,570 acres, or nearly 1,700 square miles, since it began on Feb. 26. As of March 7, it was 74 percent contained, and the Windy Deuce fire, which has burned 144,206 acres, was 89 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Downed power lines and other utility equipment have led to other massive wildfires, including the deadly blaze on Maui, Hawaii, in 2023 and a major California wildfire in 2019.
Xcel Energy stated that it also “disputes claims that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure.”
The Smokehouse Creek fire was among a cluster of fires that spread across the rural Panhandle last week and prompted evacuation orders in a handful of small communities. That fire also spilled into neighboring Oklahoma.
Bob Frenzel, CEO and president of Xcel Energy, said the company is committed to supporting the recovery of the region.
“Xcel Energy, through our Southwestern Public Service Company subsidiary, has operated in the Texas Panhandle for more than 100 years,“ he said in a statement. ”The people in this region are our friends, neighbors, and relatives. We are deeply saddened by the losses incurred in this community, and we are committed to supporting its renewal and recovery.”
According to the company, it has set up a claims process for those who had property or livestock destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek fire.
Widespread Destruction
As many as 500 homes and barns are believed to have been destroyed in the wildfires, according to officials.Xcel Energy, along with the Southwestern Public Service Company, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, and Osmose Utilities Services, are accused of “gross negligence” after a wooden utility pole allegedly “splintered and snapped” during high winds, igniting the wildfire that spread to nearby Canadian.
Osmose is a Georgia-based contractor allegedly hired to inspect and report on the company’s utility poles, according to court documents.
Osmose CEO Mike Adams told The Epoch Times in an email earlier this week that the company takes the allegations “seriously” and is “fully cooperating” with investigators. Southwestern Public Service Company did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Ms. McQuiddy, who is represented by the Watts Law Firm in Houston, is seeking more than $1 million in damages for the loss of her property. The law firm has previously represented plaintiffs in lawsuits related to wildfires in Maui and California.
Earlier this week, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said preliminary reports have estimated at least 3,000 head of cattle have been destroyed in the wildfires.
Cattle rancher Dale Smith said he has lost up to 50 head of cattle out of the 3,000 that graze on his property east of Stinnett.
“We’re still trying to tally up the cattle losses,” he said. “It burned probably 70 [percent to] 80 percent of the ranch.”
Mr. Smith said much of the grazing land would grow back quickly with the right amount of rain and moisture, but he said he couldn’t replace the 100-year-old cottonwood trees that dotted his ranch.
Firefighters were able to save three camps on his ranch that included barns and other buildings.
Mr. Smith said he believes that a faulty power line sparked the blaze, which spread quickly because of the high winds and dry conditions.
“These fires are becoming a regular occurrence. Lives are being lost. Livestock are being lost. Livelihoods are being lost,” he said. “It’s a sad story that repeats itself again and again because public utility companies and oil companies responsible for these power lines aren’t keeping them maintained.”
