Texas Woman Sues Xcel Energy, Alleges Company is Responsible for Panhandle Wildfires

A woman whose house burned down has filed a lawsuit claiming the wildfire was sparked by a utility pole that broke and fell.
Texas Woman Sues Xcel Energy, Alleges Company is Responsible for Panhandle Wildfires
Smoke billows over a road during the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas panhandle on Feb. 27, 2024. Texas A&M Forest Service via Getty Images
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A woman who lost her home in one of the largest wildfire in U.S. history has filed a lawsuit against Xcel Energy.

Melanie McQuiddy, a resident of Canadian, Texas, alleges the Minnesota-based utility company is responsible for the massive Smokehouse Creek Fire that engulfed her home, according to the court documents filed on March 1. The fire has burned over 1 million acres since it began about one mile north of Stinnett, Texas, in Hutchison County on Feb. 26.

Jana J. Pruet
Jana J. Pruet
Author
Jana J. Pruet is an award-winning investigative journalist. She covers news in Texas with a focus on politics, energy, and crime. She has reported for many media outlets over the years, including Reuters, The Dallas Morning News, and TheBlaze, among others. She has a journalism degree from Southern Methodist University. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]
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