Committee Says Decayed Utility Pole Caused Texas Wildfire

May 3rd, 6:00 AM EDT

By NEWSnet Digital Team

Texas wildfire.

MGN via Greenville Fire-Rescue

LUBBOCK, Texas (NEWSnet/AP) — A decayed utility pole that broke, causing power lines to fall onto dry grass in Texas Panhandle, sparked the state’s largest wildfire in history, a Texas House committee confirmed Wednesday.

The committee also found that a lack of readily available air support, ineffective communication from faulty equipment and coordination among agencies inhibited efforts to contain the Smokehouse Creek fire and others that ravaged the Panhandle earlier this year.

The committee comprises three House members and two landowners. The group recommends the Legislature have more effective monitoring and rule enforcement to check “irresponsible” oil and gas operators and improve accountability with utility providers when it comes to inspecting and replacing power poles.

Two people died and more than 1 million acres burned across several counties in the Smokehouse Creek fire.

Xcel Energy, a Minnesota-based company that has provided electricity in that portion of the state, previously acknowledged its role in the blaze.

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