Current:Home > StocksNew lawsuit blames Texas' Smokehouse Creek fire on power company-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
New lawsuit blames Texas' Smokehouse Creek fire on power company
View Date:2024-12-23 22:13:04
HEMPHILL COUNTY - A new lawsuit claims a falling utility pole caused the tragic 1 million-acre Smokehouse Creek fire in the Texas Panhandle.
A system of different wildfires has torn through the Panhandle scorching over 1.2 million acres over the past week.
A woman is suing the Southwestern Public Service Company after her home near Canadian was burned, alleging the Smokehouse Creek fire was caused by human error.
Melanie McQuiddy sued Southwestern Public Service Company, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, and Osmose Utilities Services, a Georgia-based contractor that inspects wood utility poles, late on Friday.
According to McQuiddy's lawsuit, the fire started on February 26 when the pole, which the firms "failed to properly inspect, maintain, and replace," cracked and snapped off at its base.
"As a result of the utility, powered utility lines hit the ground, igniting a fire, which spread quickly into an uncontrollable conflagration," states the lawsuit.
The largest fire in the history of the state is being investigated by the Texas A&M Forest Service, which has not yet determined a cause.
According to the lawsuit, Osmose Utilities Services examined poles for Southwestern Public Service and was irresponsible in its inspection and reporting of the "rotten pole that caused the fire."
In a statement to CBS News Texas, Xcel Energy did not address the lawsuit but said they were working "in coordination with first responders and local officials to support the power needs of our communities."
"Our thoughts are with the families and communities impacted by the devastating wildfires across the Texas Panhandle. As members of this community, we will continue to support our neighbors in this recovery," Xcel Energy said in a statement to CBS News Texas. "Through the hard work and dedication of our employees and community partners, we have safely restored power to customers who can receive power. We will continue to work in coordination with first responders and local officials to support the power needs of our communities."
The CEO of Osmose, Mike Adams, stated that the company takes the accusations seriously.
"We are closely following reports of the devastation brought by the Smokehouse Creek Fire, and our thoughts are with the victims of this tragedy," said Adams. "Osmose takes these allegations extremely seriously. We immediately launched an in-depth investigation, and we are committed to fully cooperating with any other local investigations into the cause of the fire. We stand by the quality and accuracy of our utility pole inspections."
There has been no official determination of cause or causes for the fires in the Texas Panhandle and investigations are ongoing.
Two people have died as well as thousands of heads of cattle and more than 500 structures have been destroyed by the wildfires.
The firm representing McQuiddy in the lawsuit has previously represented plaintiffs in lawsuits related to wildfires in Maui and California. McQuiddy is suing for recovery of damages to real property.
- In:
- Lawsuit
- Wildfire
- Texas
- Texas Panhandle Wildfires
veryGood! (79545)
Related
- Gavin Rossdale Makes Rare Public Appearance With Girlfriend Xhoana Xheneti
- ‘Document dump’ by Flint water prosecutors leads to contempt finding
- West Maui starts reopening to tourists as thousands still displaced after wildfires: A lot of mixed emotions
- Alex Jones, Ronna McDaniel potential witnesses in Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro’s Georgia trial
- Stocks soared on news of Trump's election. Bonds sank. Here's why.
- New Mexico governor defends approach to attempted gun restrictions, emergency order on gun violence
- Kendall Jenner Recreates Fetch Mean Girls Scene in Must-See TikTok
- 7-year-old Tennessee girl dies while playing with her birthday balloons, mom says
- Jamie Lee Curtis and Don Lemon quit X, formerly Twitter: 'Time for me to leave'
- Hilarie Burton Shares Rare Insight Into Family Life With Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Ranking
- Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
- The Voice Coaches Deliver Their Own Epic Real Housewife Taglines
- Carey Mulligan Confirms She and Husband Marcus Mumford Privately Welcomed Baby No. 3
- Kevin Phillips, strategist who forecast rising Republican power, dies at 82
- Is Veterans Day a federal holiday? Here's what to know for November 11
- 2 top Polish military commanders resign in a spat with the defense minister
- US senators see a glimmer of hope for breaking a logjam with China over the fentanyl crisis
- West Maui starts reopening to tourists as thousands still displaced after wildfires: A lot of mixed emotions
Recommendation
-
Lululemon, Disney partner for 34-piece collection and campaign: 'A dream collaboration'
-
Congo orders regional peacekeepers to leave by December
-
The Best Amazon October Prime Day 2023 Deals Under $25
-
How climate change is expected to affect beer in the near future
-
Justine Bateman feels like she can breathe again in 'new era' after Trump win
-
'Always worried about our safety': Jews and Palestinians in US fearful after Hamas attack
-
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs bill expanding conservatorship law
-
Starbucks releases PSL varsity jackets, tattoos and Spotify playlist for 20th anniversary