Power lines ignited massive wildfires across the Texas Panhandle that destroyed homes and killed thousands of livestock, officials said Thursday, including the largest blaze in state history that the utility provider Xcel Energy said its equipment appeared to have sparked.
Quick Read
- Wildfire Cause: Power lines ignited massive wildfires across the Texas Panhandle, including the largest blaze in state history.
- Utility Provider’s Role: Xcel Energy acknowledged its equipment’s involvement in the Smokehouse Creek fire but disputed negligence claims in infrastructure maintenance and operation.
- Fire Impact: The Smokehouse Creek fire destroyed hundreds of structures and covered nearly 1,700 square miles, affecting both Texas and Oklahoma.
- Legal Action: A lawsuit filed against Xcel Energy and two other utilities alleges a downed power line near Stinnett sparked the blaze due to inadequate inspection and maintenance.
- Agricultural Losses: Ranchers reported significant losses, including cattle and grazing lands, with some estimating 30 to 50 cattle lost out of 3,000.
- Environmental Damage: In addition to livestock and structural losses, the fires destroyed valuable natural resources, such as century-old Cottonwood trees.
- Safety Concerns: Recurring wildfires raise concerns about the maintenance and safety of utility companies’ power lines, with calls for improved practices to prevent future incidents.
The Associated Press has the story:
Power lines ignited the largest wildfire in Texas history, officials say
Newslooks- (AP)
Power lines ignited massive wildfires across the Texas Panhandle that destroyed homes and killed thousands of livestock, officials said Thursday, including the largest blaze in state history that the utility provider Xcel Energy said its equipment appeared to have sparked.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said its investigators have concluded that the Smokehouse Creek fire was ignited by power lines, as was the nearby Windy Deuce fire.
The utility provider Xcel Energy said Thursday that its equipment appeared to have played a role in igniting the Smokehouse Creek fire, though it did not believe its equipment was responsible for the Windy Deuce fire.
The Smokehouse Creek fire burned nearly 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers) and destroyed hundreds of structures. The Minnesota-based company said in a statement that it disputes claims that “it acted negligently” in maintaining and operating infrastructure.
“Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its equipment appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire,” the company stated.
Downed power lines and other utility equipment have led to other major wildfires, including the deadly blaze in Maui last year and a massive California wildfire in 2019.
The Smokehouse Creek fire was among a cluster of fires that ignited in the rural Panhandle last week and prompted evacuation orders in a handful of small communities. That wildfire, which also spilled into neighboring Oklahoma, was about 44% contained as of Wednesday.
Officials save said that as many as 500 structures may have been destroyed in the fires.
A lawsuit filed Friday in Hemphill County had alleged that a downed power line near the town of Stinnett on Feb. 26 sparked the blaze. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Stinnett homeowner Melanie McQuiddy against Xcel Energy Services Inc. and two other utilities, alleged the blaze started “when a wooden pole defendants failed to properly inspect, maintain and replace, splintered and snapped off at its base.”
Dale Smith, who operates a large cattle Ranch east of Stinnett said he lost an estimated 30 to 50 head of cattle out of the 3,000 that graze on his property.
“We’re still trying to tally up the cattle losses,” Smith said. “It burned probably 70-80% of the ranch.”
Smith said much of the grazing land will grow back quickly with the proper rain and moisture, but he said they also lost several 100-year-old Cottonwood trees that dotted the ranch. Firefighters were able to save three camps on the ranch that included barns and other structures.
Smith said he believes a faulty power line sparked the blaze which quickly spread because of high winds.
“These fires are becoming a regular occurrence. Lives are being lost. Livestock are being lost. Livelihoods are being lost. 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.”
