Authorities in Texas say a massive wildfire sparked by power lines across the state's Panhandle region last week, burning down homes and killing thousands of livestock.
Power lines ignited a massive wildfire across the Texas Panhandle, destroying homes and killing thousands of livestock, officials said Thursday. The fires included the largest in the state's history, with utility company Xcel Energy saying the fire appeared to have started at its own equipment.
The Texas A&M Forest Service is investigating the historic Smokehouse Creek Fire, which has burned about 1,700 square miles (4,400 square kilometers) and spilled into neighboring Oklahoma, and the nearby Windy Deuce Fire, which has burned about 225 homes. Investigators concluded that both were sparked by power lines. square miles (582 square kilometers). The statement did not elaborate on what caused the power lines to ignite the fire.
“Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facility appears to have been involved in igniting the Smokehouse Creek Fire,” the utility said.
A wildfire that broke out in the windswept countryside last week prompted evacuations in a handful of small communities, destroyed as many as 500 buildings and killed at least two people.
Containment levels are increasing, with the Smokehouse Creek Fire on Thursday at 74% containment and the Windy Deuce fire at 89% containment. But the Forest Service warned that strong winds would blow into the dry region, increasing the risk of fires.
Downed power lines and other utilities have contributed to other large wildfires, including last year's deadly Maui wildfires and California's massive 2019 wildfires.
A lawsuit filed last week in Hemphill County alleges that a downed power line near the town of Stinnett started the Smokehouse Creek Fire on Feb. 26. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Stinnett homeowners against Xcel Energy and two other power companies, says the fire was caused by “defendants' failure to properly inspect, maintain, and replace wooden poles. The fire broke out when it cracked and snapped off at the base.
Xcel Energy said in a news release Thursday that its equipment appears to have played a role in igniting the Smokehouse Creek Fire, but disputed claims of negligence in maintaining and operating the infrastructure. The Minnesota-based company also said in a statement that it does not believe its equipment caused the Windy Deuce fire and is not aware of any such allegations.
Two women have been confirmed dead in last week's wildfires, one whose body was found engulfed in flames after getting out of a truck, and another whose body was found inside her burnt-out home. On Tuesday, a fire chief died while responding to a house fire in one of the hardest-hit towns. Officials said the fire was not caused by a wildfire, but Fritch Fire Chief Zeb Smith had been actively fighting the wildfire for more than a week when he died. An autopsy will determine Smith's cause of death.
The Associated Press requested a complete report from the Forest Service on the cause of the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires.
Dale Smith, who runs a large ranch east of Stinnett, worked last week to tally the number of cattle lost to the raging wildfires. At the time, he said he believed a faulty power line was likely the cause and was concerned about maintenance of the line.
“These fires are becoming commonplace,” he said. “Lives are being lost. Livestock is being lost. Livelihoods are being lost. It's a sad story that keeps repeating itself.”
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Associated Press journalist Sean Murphy contributed to this report from Oklahoma City.
