Utility provider Xcel Energy said Thursday that its facilities appeared to have played a part in igniting a massive wildfire in the Texas Panhandle that grew into the largest in state history.
Texas officials concluded Thursday that power lines ignited the Smokehouse Creek fire. The wildfire has burned an estimated 1,059,570 acres and is 74 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.The Minnesota-based company said in a statement that it disputes claims that "it acted negligently" in maintaining and operating infrastructure.
"We are still in the middle of a disaster and there is still work to do," said Deidra Thomas from the Hutchinson County Office of Emergency Management on Wednesday.Hutchinson County, northeast of Amarillo, is the hardest hit.Last week, two fire-related deaths were confirmed and this week the small town of Fritch announced the death of its volunteer fire chief.Zeb Smith collapsed at a house fire, suffering from a reported heart attack.
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