The massive wildfires that erupted across the Texas Panhandle recently were started by power lines, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The still-burning Smokehouse Creek fire, the largest blaze in Texas history, has burned more than 400,000 hectares (1 million acres) since its start last month. Another fire, the Windy Deuce fire, has burned more than 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres).
Both fires are believed to have been caused by power lines, according to the forest service investigators.
"Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire," Xcel Energy wrote in a statement.
However, Xcel's statement went on to say it did not believe it sparked the Windy Deuce fire.
The Smokehouse Creek fire has destroyed dozens of homes and killed thousands of livestock, including about 3,000 cattle on Texas ranches, even spilling into Oklahoma.
The wildfires also prompted evacuations in some small communities, causing the destruction of 500 structures and the deaths of two women.
Xcel Energy is facing at least two lawsuits from multiple parties alleging negligence in maintaining their electrical infrastructure.
One lawsuit, filed in Hemphill County, Texas, claims that a downed power line near the town of Stinnett on February 26 caused the blaze because of a wooden pole that the company allegedly failed to inspect, maintain, and replace properly.
Xcel Energy acknowledges its equipment's involvement in starting the fire but disputes accusations of negligence in maintaining and operating their infrastructure.
Xcel also faces hundreds of lawsuits in Colorado, where the costliest wildfire on record in the state, the Marshall Fire, killed two people and destroyed nearly 1,100 homes in December 2021.
While containment levels for the fires have been increasing — the Smokehouse Creek fire was 74% contained on Thursday while the Windy Deuce fire was 89% — the Forest Service warned high winds across the dry landscape could increase the risk of fire danger.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
