Texas Smokehouse Creek Wildfire Lawyer

Wildfire in Texas

Lawsuits are being filed by survivors of the Smokehouse Creek wildfire, the largest fire in Texas history, after Xcel Energy admitted that electrical equipment may have sparked the blaze.

Need a Texas Smokehouse Creek Wildfire Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you had financial losses or property damage from wildfires in Texas, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Texas Wildfires

The son of a woman who died in a wildfire in Texas has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Xcel Energy. The victim, Joyce “Joy” Blankenship, was a mother and grandmother who died in her home when she was unable to escape, according to the lawsuit.

Xcel Energy has been hit by several other lawsuits in recent weeks, mostly involving ranchers and landowners in Roberts, Hemphill, and Carson counties who lost cattle or had property damage.

Ranchers Lost 7,000+ Cattle, Unknown Number of Injured

The Texas Panhandle is the largest cattle-producing region in the world. An estimated 7,000 to 10,000 cattle died in the wildfires in February 2024. The fires occurred during calving season, so many of the livestock who died were pregnant cows or calves. Ranchers were also forced to euthanize many cattle who survived the fires, but suffered burn injuries on their hooves or udders.

Xcel Energy Involved in Sparking Smokehouse Creek Wildfire

In March 2024, Xcel Energy, a utility company based in Minnesota, said that “its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire.”

Xcel Energy denied that it was negligent in maintaining equipment, but agreed to preserve a utility pole that lawyers claim was poorly maintained and fell over, sparking the wildfire when electrical lines hit dry grassland.

Smokehouse Creek Wildfire in Texas

The Smokehouse Creek wildfire is the largest wildfire in Texas history. It started on February 26, in a rural area located about 1 mile north of Stinnett, Texas, northeast of Amarillo. The wildfire killed at least 2 people, burned over 1 million acres, destroyed 64 homes and hundreds of structures, and killed thousands of cows and livestock.

What Happened?

On February 26, several wildfires started burning simultaneously on the Texas Panhandle. These wildfires rapidly spread into Oklahoma and merged together, creating the 2nd-largest wildfire in U.S. history.

February is an unusual time for wildfires in Texas. These unsual blazes were fueled by unseasonably warm temperatures, dry conditions, and high winds.

Tragically, two deaths were confirmed. One victim was unable to escape in her truck and died in the fire. Another victim died when her home was burned, according to fire officials.

Xcel Energy Lawsuits Claim Utility Poles Sparked Fires

One of the first lawsuits was filed by a homeowner in Stinnett, Texas, where the Smokehouse Creek wildfire burned dozens of homes.

The lawsuit claims that Xcel Energy was responsible because “a wooden pole defendants failed to properly inspect, maintain and replace, splintered and snapped off at its base.” When the pole hit the ground, the electrical lines ignited dry grass and the blaze spread.

Lawyers told USA Today that the fire started where a utility pole once stood. Earlier this year, the pole was red-tagged by inspectors who said that it was “not safe to be climbed and needs to be replaced immediately.”

Do I Need to File a Lawsuit?

Wildfire survivors might be covered by insurance for some of their losses after a wildfire, but not everything. It may be necessary to file a lawsuit to seek financial compensation from 3rd-parties, such as the utility companies who are responsible for starting the wildfire.

What Types of Compensation Can I Seek Through a Wildfire Lawsuit?

People who were injured or had property damage due to the Smokehouse Creek wildfire may need to file a lawsuit in order to seek financial compensation. These types of claims may include:

Property damage
Lost income or earning potential
Business expenses
Relocation (hotels, rental cars, food, etc.)
Death of cattle, livestock, or pets
Personal belongings, cars, farm equipment, etc.
Decreased property value
Burn injuries
Wrongful death
And more

Need a Smokehouse Creek Wildfire Lawyer in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.