A massive wildfire that has ravaged over 1 million acres in the Texas Panhandle may have been sparked by equipment belonging to Xcel Energy, the parent company of Southwest Public Service Company. The fire, known as the Smokehouse Creek fire, has already claimed the lives of two individuals and thousands of farm animals, as well as destroying hundreds of homes.

Xcel Energy released a statement acknowledging that their facilities may have been involved in igniting the fire, although they denied any negligence in maintaining their equipment. The company is currently working with officials to investigate the cause of the fire, which has been burning since February 26th.

The Texas A&M Forest Service reported that the Smokehouse Creek fire is the largest wildfire in the state's history, burning over 1 million acres. The fire is currently 74% contained, but officials are concerned about strong winds complicating firefighting efforts in the coming days.

This incident is not the first time a utility company has been accused of sparking destructive wildfires. Hawaiian Electric faced a lawsuit last year after a downed power line started a fire that led to the deaths of over 100 people in Lahaina. Similarly, Pacific Gas and Electric agreed to pay $13.5 billion in damages to wildfire victims in 2019 after their equipment was linked to several fatal fires in California.

As investigations into the cause of the Smokehouse Creek fire continue, affected residents are encouraged to submit claims to Xcel Energy through their claims process. The company has promised to handle these claims expeditiously, prioritizing those who lost their homes in the devastating blaze.