Xcel Admits Its Equipment Sparked Texas’ Worst Ever Wildfire

On Thursday morning, electric utility Xcel Energy stated, “Our facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition” of the worst wildfire in Texas history. 

The Smokehouse Creek fire, which started on Feb. 26, has burned over 1.2 million acres and destroyed hundreds of buildings and thousands of cattle in the Texas Panhandle area.  

“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 wrote in a press release. 

Xcel said it has been cooperating with investigations about the wildfire and has launched its own review of the incident. However, the company denied claims “that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure.” 

Last week, Xcel Energy revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that attorneys asked the company to preserve a splintered power pole near where the fire started. 

Shares of Xcel have plunged 15% since the fire began. 

Meanwhile, BBC News blames “climate change.”

Sigh, BBC.