Utility Xcel Energy reported on March 7 that its equipment was likely “involved in an ignition” of the Smokehouse Creek Fire, the biggest in Texas history, which has burned more than 1,059,570 acres, Bloomberg reported. Two people have been killed in the blaze and authorities estimate that 500 structures have been destroyed.
Investigators for Texas A&M Forest Service have determined that the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires in the state were ignited by downed power lines, according to a statement from the service. The forest service did not say whether the power lines that ignited the fires belonged to Xcel Energy.
Xcel said in its statement that it has been cooperating with investigators and conducting its own review but “disputes claims that it 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 fires have threatened a number of refineries and chemical production facilities, including Nutrien Ltd.’s nitrogen plant in Borger, Texas (GM March 1, p. 1). A Nutrien spokesperson told Green Markets on March 7 that “the Borger facility has remained in operation and the wildfires do not currently pose a threat to the site.”
While the Roughneck Fire in Hutchinson County is now 100% contained, four other fires continue to burn in Texas, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which was 44% contained as of March 7. The Windy Deuce Fire was 81% contained and slightly over 144,000 acres, while the Grapevine Creek Fire was 77% contained at 34,000 acres.
Officials surveying the damage said more than 3,600 cattle have died from the fires, and the number of dead cattle is expected to double or triple in the coming days as land is inspected and animals are euthanized because of burn injuries and trauma, USA Today reported, citing Sid Miller, Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture.