Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Southwestern Public Service Company (Xcel Energy), alleging the utility company’s “blatant negligence” caused the devastating Smokehouse Creek Fire that ravaged the Texas Panhandle in early 2024.
“Xcel’s blatant negligence killed three Texans and caused unfathomable destruction in the Texas Panhandle,” said Attorney General Paxton in his December 16, 2025, filing, which seeks damages for what officials have confirmed as the largest wildfire in Texas history.
Record-Breaking Destruction
The Smokehouse Creek Fire erupted on February 26, 2024, and ultimately scorched approximately 1,058,482 acres of land across the Texas Panhandle. The sheer scale of the blaze made it not just noteworthy but historically significant in a state no stranger to wildfires.
What caused such catastrophic damage? Investigators from the Texas A&M Forest Service determined that power lines from a broken utility pole sparked the initial blaze. “They’re looking at what resources they have and all these things in order to base their confidence that this fire will no longer get out, make any more runs, and it won’t make any more threats to life and property safety,” read part of the assessment from officials managing the fire’s aftermath, according to state records.
The human toll was devastating. While initial reports confirmed two fatalities, the death count later rose to three. Beyond the tragic loss of life, the fire decimated agricultural operations across the region, with estimates suggesting more than 15,000 cattle perished in the inferno.
Aging Infrastructure at Heart of Lawsuit
Perhaps most damning for Xcel Energy is their own admission that their equipment initiated the blaze. But the lawsuit goes further, alleging a pattern of neglect that created the conditions for disaster.
According to Paxton’s filing, the utility poles in question were nearly a century old — more than double their expected 40-year lifespan. “The company made false representations about its safety commitments and ignored warnings that its aging infrastructure needed immediate repair and to be updated,” the lawsuit claims.
How bad was the economic damage? The fire caused over $1 billion in losses, devastating agriculture, ranching operations, and entire communities across the region. The Attorney General’s suit seeks both financial damages and corrective actions to prevent similar disasters.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire wasn’t an isolated incident. It was part of a series of fires that tore through the Panhandle during that period, fueled by a perfect storm of dry conditions, high winds, and record-breaking temperatures, according to meteorological data.
For residents of the Panhandle, the lawsuit represents more than just financial restitution. It’s an acknowledgment of preventable suffering — and potentially a step toward ensuring aging infrastructure across Texas receives the attention it desperately needs before the next disaster strikes.
