American electricity supplier Xcel Energy admitted Thursday that its facilities appeared to be the cause of the largest fire in Texas history, which has killed two people since it left on February 26.
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“Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy recognizes that its facilities appear to be involved in the start of the Smokehouse Creek fire,” the company said in a statement.
She said she was cooperating with ongoing investigations and having conducted her own investigations.
The group nevertheless refuted “any accusations that it acted negligently in the maintenance and use of its infrastructure”.
This fire, which extended to neighboring Oklahoma, destroyed nearly 429,000 hectares in almost two weeks in North Texas, according to the latest report published Thursday by the Texas Forestry Office, specifying that It was now 74% circumscribed.
“The people of this region are our friends, neighbors and loved ones. We are deeply saddened by the losses suffered by this community and we are determined to support its renewal and recovery,” commented Bob Frenzel, boss of Xcel Energy, quoted in the press release.
US President Joe Biden attributed the disaster to the effects of climate change.
The damage has not, at this stage, been quantified, but Xcel indicated that, according to an initial assessment provided Tuesday by the authorities, at least 64 houses which were inhabited were destroyed in two counties. In a third county, there would be fewer than 17.
Xcel Energy has invited anyone who has suffered losses, including livestock, to report through the complaints procedure available on its website. The electricity supplier has undertaken to respond “promptly” after examination.
Texas has suffered a large number of fires in recent weeks.
Xcel Energy does not believe its infrastructure is the cause of the Windy Deuce fire, which destroyed more than 58,000 hectares and was 89% contained as of Thursday.
The group is present in Texas through its subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS), which has operated there for more than 100 years.
On the New York Stock Exchange, Xcel Energy shares did not seem affected by these announcements on Thursday and rose 1.54% shortly before 6:00 p.m. GMT.
