An investigative committee formed by the Texas House has been conducting hearings to delve into the catastrophic wildfires that swept through the Texas Panhandle earlier this year, including the largest in the state's history. Public testimonies were heard at the MK Brown Civic Center, with discussions focusing on accountability, aerial conflicts, prescribed burns, and utility maintenance. The Division of Emergency Management Chief highlighted the absence of state-owned fixed-wing firefighting planes, advocating for Texas to establish its own firefighting aircraft division to enhance wildfire response capabilities. Additionally, the hearings revealed communication failures among state agencies and regulators, with the committee hinting at potential legal reforms. A notable point of contention involved a utility pole inspection company, hired to inspect poles in the Panhandle, which declined to testify before lawmakers regarding the Smokehouse Creek fire. Xcel Energy acknowledged that the pole which sparked the Panhandle wildfire needed replacement.
The State House Committee looking into the Panhandle fires has wrapped up day three of its hearing. The committee is investigating how the fires, which burned more than a million acres, started and why it got so bad. https://t.co/v13gnS4XHb
Texas Panhandle wildfires hearing wrapping up after third day of testimony https://t.co/P5Pc63je8w
In Texas House hearing, Xcel Energy says pole that started Panhandle wildfire needed replacement https://t.co/3hns12KLbZ
The Texas legislative committee investigating this year’s deadly Panhandle wildfires blasted state agencies and regulators for failing to communicate — and began hinting at possible legal changes it could propose as it wrapped up its work. https://t.co/AtkArdpq6t
Texas emergency management chief believes the state needs its own fleet of firefighting aircraft https://t.co/HImPw3AbFq #texasnews
New: The Texas legislative committee investigating this year’s deadly Panhandle wildfires blasted state agencies and regulators for failing to communicate — and began hinting at possible legal changes it could propose as it wrapped up its work. https://t.co/ojwfbVOBFV
A company hired to inspect utility poles in the Panhandle declined to testify before Texas lawmakers Wednesday, as part of the state’s inquiry into the Smokehouse Creek fire (via @TexasTribune) https://t.co/6fbNtObMWO
Using electricity to fight fires, Denton purchases first electric fire truck in Texas https://t.co/pdwcnil6q4
The House Committee investigating the deadly Panhandle wildfires will wrap up three days of testimony in Pampa. https://t.co/c8ml6G2gP3
Texas’ top emergency manager told a panel of lawmakers that the state should establish its own firefighting aircraft division after a series of wildfires scorched the Panhandle region earlier this year. (via @TexasTribune) https://t.co/Qy3kKmFLBX
Utility pole inspection company declines to testify at Panhandle wildfire investigation https://t.co/SzGFiIfCHg
Texas Panhandle wildfire hearings: Prescribed burns, utility maintenance big topics in day 2 https://t.co/dt1yr5VbEi
The Texas House committee formed to investigate the Panhandle fires spent the day asking more questions during a hearing held in Pampa. https://t.co/IosjJjLGlb
A company hired to inspect utility poles in the Panhandle declined to testify before Texas lawmakers, as part of the state’s inquiry into the Smokehouse Creek fire. https://t.co/SzGFiIfCHg
Texas emergency director calls for firefighting air force after historic Panhandle fires https://t.co/qD5vkI6wcp
Letter from Osmose (one of the companies sued by a homeowner alleging culpability) to the #txlege House investigative committee on the Panhandle Wildfires that began hearings yesterday and continues today. Osmose was invited to the Thursday hearing, which it will not attend. https://t.co/47JQQhzLJd
Texas’ top emergency manager told a panel of lawmakers Tuesday that the state should establish its own firefighting aircraft division after a series of wildfires, including the largest in state history, scorched the Panhandle region earlier this year. https://t.co/2WyarGi6hJ
Texas’ top emergency manager told lawmakers the state should establish its own firefighting aircraft division after wildfires, including the largest in state history, scorched the Panhandle region earlier this year. https://t.co/s6RJSSnI9Y
The House Committee investigating the deadly Panhandle wildfires resumed testimony Wednesday in Pampa. https://t.co/0hvPEGcDSt
“We don’t control our own destiny, and I want to control our destiny.” Texas’ top emergency manager is pushing for the state to establish its own firefighting aircraft division to battle future wildfires. (Via @TexasTribune) https://t.co/W0g0DdNxHU
Texas Panhandle wildfire hearings: Accountability, aerial conflicts top issues https://t.co/bhNXzkwB9U
Texas does not own any fixed-wing firefighting planes itself, the Division of Emergency Management Chief told a House panel investigating the deadly Panhandle wildfires in its first hearing on Tuesday. https://t.co/lmW7ysKtEq
The Panhandle Wildfires, Investigative Committee is holding hearings at the MK Brown Civic Center. https://t.co/RLRJG9uquq
WATCH LIVE: An investigative committee formed to study the wildfires across the Texas Panhandle is meeting and hearing testimony from the public: https://t.co/phw75eXnGS #fox44tx