Utility provider Xcel Energy said its equipment likely played a role in sparking the Smokehouse Creek fire‚ which burned over 1.2 million acres and killed at least two people. According to Texas A&;M Forest Service investigators‚ downed power lines ignited the massive fire. The Minnesota-based company said its facilities “appear to have been involved in an ignition” of the blaze. “Xcel Energy disputes claims that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure; however‚ we encourage people who had property destroyed by or livestock lost in the Smokehouse Creek fire to submit a claim to Xcel Energy through our claims process‚” the company said in a statement. JUST IN – Xcel Energy says its facilities appeared to have a role in igniting the largest wildfire in Texas history — AP pic.twitter.com/PlWXPqla68 — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 7‚ 2024 Xcel Energy says its equipment may have ignited massive Texas panhandle wildfireshttps://t.co/EAck3d08vShttps://t.co/EAck3d08vS — The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) March 7‚ 2024 Per NBC News: The Texas A&;M Forest Service said Thursday investigators determined the Smokehouse Creek Fire — the biggest in state history‚ burning well over 1 million acres — and the Windy Deuce Fire were caused by downed power lines that ignited the flames. The forest service did not say whether the power lines that ignited the fires belonged to Xcel Energy. The ongoing Smokehouse Creek Fire is the largest blaze in state history‚ burning more than 1‚059‚570 acres‚ according to the forest service. Two people have been killed in the blaze and authorities estimate 500 structures have been destroyed as a result. As of Thursday morning‚ the forest service reported the fire was 74% contained‚ with two adjacent fires still burning‚ as well. The nearby Grape Vine Creek Fire was at 96% contained‚ while the Windy Deuce Fire was 89% contained. Claims filed to Xcel Energy will be handled expeditiously‚ prioritizing those who lost their homes in the fire‚ the company said. “The largest shareholders for Xcel Energy Inc.(XEL) are the same hedge funds/banks who also have ownership in many of the railroads and chemical giants responsible for environmental warfare in the United States over the last 3 years. It is worth noting that Xcel Energy admitted today that its equipment was likely involved in the start of what is now the largest wildlife in Texas history‚” SGAnon wrote. Did You Know:The largest shareholders for Xcel Energy Inc.(XEL) are the same hedge funds/banks who also have ownership in many of the railroads and chemical giants responsible for environmental warfare in the United States over the last 3 years. It is worth noting that Xcel… pic.twitter.com/LeFt4G64g5 — SGAnon (@TheQNewsPatriot) March 7‚ 2024 From Fintel: Largest shareholders include Vanguard Group Inc‚ BlackRock Inc.‚ State Street Corp‚ Jpmorgan Chase &; Co‚ Massachusetts Financial Services Co /ma/‚ VTSMX – Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares‚ T. Rowe Price Investment Management‚ Inc.‚ Aristotle Capital Management‚ LLC‚ VFINX – Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares‚ and Geode Capital Management‚ Llc . BREAKING: Utility provider Xcel Energy says its facilities appeared to have role in igniting Texas wildfire https://t.co/BdDYUdaMxh — The Associated Press (@AP) March 7‚ 2024 From the Associated Press: The Minnesota-based company said in the news release that it did not believe its equipment caused the ignition of the Windy Deuce fire‚ nor was it aware of any allegations that it had. A company spokesman said in an email that there are power lines owned and operated by various companies in that area. The wildfires that ignited last week in the windswept rural area prompted evacuations in a handful of small communities‚ destroyed as many as 500 structures and killed thousands of cattle. When the blazes began on Feb. 26‚ winds in the area were reaching upwards of 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour). Those strong winds‚ along with dry grass and temperatures reaching into the 70s and 80s fed the flames. Containment levels have been increasing. The Smokehouse Creek fire was 74% contained Thursday‚ while the Windy Deuce fire was 89%. But the Forest Service warned that high winds were expected to be moving across the dry landscape‚ increasing fire danger. Downed power lines and other utility equipment have led to other major wildfires‚ including the deadly blaze in Maui last year and a massive California wildfire in 2019. A lawsuit filed last week in Hemphill County alleged that a downed power line near the town of Stinnett on Feb. 26 sparked the Smokehouse Creek fire. The lawsuit‚ filed on behalf of a Stinnett homeowner against Xcel Energy‚ alleged the blaze started “when a wooden pole defendants failed to properly inspect‚ maintain and replace‚ splintered and snapped off at its base.” WATCH: