Xcel Energy facilities "appear to have been involved in an ignition" of a giant wildfire that's been blazing across the Texas Panhandle since last month, the company said in a statement Thursday.
The cause of the Smokehouse Creek Fire — the biggest in state history, burning well over 1 million acres — is still under investigation by Texas officials, but the utility company said it is also conducting its own review.
"Xcel Energy 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 statement said.
Claims filed to the company will be handled expeditiously, prioritizing those who lost their homes in the fire, the company said.
The Texas A&M Forest Service said the ongoing Smokehouse Creek Fire is the largest blaze in state history, burning more than 1,059,570 acres.
Organizations:
Xcel Energy, Texas Panhandle, Energy, Texas, M Forest Service
Locations:
Texas