Texas Utility Admits Role In Sparking Record Wildfire

The Texas Tribune reports:

Xcel Energy on Thursday acknowledged its involvement in the Smokehouse Creek fire, which started last week and quickly became the largest wildfire in state history, burning more than 1 million acres. “Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire,” the company said in a statement Thursday.

Xcel said it has been cooperating with investigations into the wildfires. However, the company disputed claims in the same statement that the company acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure. “However, we encourage people who had property destroyed by or livestock lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process,” the statement says.

Read the full article.

Breaking: Xcel Energy on Thursday acknowledged its involvement in the ignition of the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which has grown to be the largest in state history. https://t.co/fGaC9UQLPG

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 7, 2024