As of March 24, 2025, Texas and its neighboring states face several severe wildfire outbreaks, causing extensive damage and significant public concern.
These wildfires have resulted in substantial property destruction, injuries, and even death.
Current Wildfire Conditions
In Texas, wildfires continue to spread rapidly, fueled by dry weather, strong winds, and drought conditions. Numerous wildfires across the state have burned thousands of acres, destroying homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
The Crabapple Fire near Fredericksburg has been particularly devastating. Since igniting on March 15, it has burned approximately 9,858 acres and is currently 90% contained.
The fire destroyed nine homes—seven of which were occupied—and 20 outbuildings. Evacuation orders have been lifted, but officials remain cautious due to ongoing windy conditions that could reignite flames.
Oklahoma has also been severely impacted. Fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, Oklahoma wildfires have resulted in at least four fatalities and over 200 injuries.
Approximately 179,000 acres have been scorched, with nearly 300 structures, including more than 200 homes, destroyed.
Tragically, among the victims is Allen Ferguson, a youth wrestling coach who died heroically while saving his 15-year-old son, who remains in critical condition.
Weather Conditions Fueling the Fires
Critical weather conditions continue to drive wildfire risks across Texas and neighboring states.
Persistent dry conditions combined with strong winds, low humidity, and an abundance of dry vegetation create a dangerous environment where fires can ignite quickly and spread uncontrollably.
Authorities warn residents to remain vigilant, stay informed, and heed evacuation orders.
How Companies Can Be Held Liable for Wildfires
Corporations, and in particular utility companies, are often found to be at fault for starting wildfires because of equipment issues and inadequate infrastructure maintenance.
Under Texas law, companies can be held liable under theories of private and public nuisance, statutory state laws, and negligence. Specific theories and causes of wildfires by corporations include, but are not limited to:
- Failing to keep electrical equipment in reasonably safe condition at all times;
- Failing to design, construct, operate, monitor, and maintain high voltage transmission and distribution lines and equipment infrastructure to withstand foreseeable wind, drought, and vegetation growth conditions to prevent foreseeable fire ignition;
- Failing to properly investigate, monitor, and maintain vegetation to properly mitigate and ameliorate the foreseeable risk of fire;
- Failing to maintain reasonable vegetation management programs to ensure dry vegetation is cleared and a safe distance away from high powered equipment.
- Failing to maintain and monitor high voltage transmission and distribution lines in fire prone areas to avoid igniting fire and spreading fires;
- Failing to consider and remedy the dangers of sparking, arcing, and downed powerlines in high fire risk regions such as Los Angeles County and adjoining counties;
- Failure to perform inspections and maintenance of high-powered, long-distance, transmission lines, distribution lines, and electrical equipment in a timely and routine manner;
- Failing to install the equipment necessary, and/or to inspect and repair the equipment installed, to prevent electrical transmission and distribution lines from improperly sagging, contacting and/or arcing with other metal wires and/or metal clad equipment placed on its poles;
- Failing to act on/correct known or knowable fire-risk conditions, including excess and dangerous slack, sway, magnetic resonance, and conductor slap;
- Failing to implement low-cost prevention measures including but not limited to spacer, winglets, and weights;
- Allowing lines, equipment, and vegetation to devolve into dangerous conditions by refusing to allocate the necessary funding to inspect, repair, and maintain long distance transmission lines, pylons, and related equipment;
- Keeping long distance transmission lines, equipment, and infrastructure in disrepair;
- Failing to implement and follow regulations and reasonably prudent practices in de-energizing power lines to prevent foreseeable fire ignition;
- Failing to implement and follow regulations and reasonably prudent practices in de-energizing power lines after a file’s ignition;
- Failing to timely and proactively de-energize power lines during forecasted fire prone conditions;
- Failing to install industry standard failure prevention equipment;
- Failing to implement industry standard Early Failure Detection software technology;
- Maintaining sub-standard safety practices despite long-term knowledge of deficiencies and dangers, including criticisms from regulatory agencies such as the CPUC;
- Failing to comply with Federal law, Federal regulation, State law, State regulation, and industry standards in maintaining and repairing public utility equipment, including but not limited to high powered electric equipment and surrounding vegetation;
- Failing to implement and heed direction or guidance from regulatory agencies;
- Failing to implement adequate public utility board plans to improve dangerous and severely aging infrastructure;
- Failing to properly train and supervise employees and agents responsible for the maintenance and inspection of its distribution and transmission lines and electrical infrastructure; and
- Failing to properly investigate, screen, train, and supervise employees and agents responsible for maintenance and inspection of its overhead electric and communications facilities, including tree trimming and vegetation mitigation and removal around such facilities.
Legal Options for Wildfire Victims
Victims affected by wildfires have a right to pursue compensation for damages, including property loss, travel and relocation related expenses, personal injury, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and wrongful death.
When choosing an attorney, it is important to choose one with knowledge and experience. Perkins & Perkins has a proven track record of representing plaintiffs in a variety of personal injury cases.
Our abilities are demonstrated by an $18,111,232.00 verdict we secured in 2022, which was recognized as the largest construction injury verdict in Texas, that year.
Perkins & Perkins offers free consultations and operates on a contingency fee basis for injury cases. This means that you pay nothing unless we recover damages for you.
With our proven knowledge and experience, we stand ready to help you. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your options and take the first step in claiming justice for a loved one.
Sources:
- My San Antonio – https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/crabapple-fire-fredericksburg-20228583.php
- Texas A&M Forest Service – https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/currentsituation/
- Associated Press – https://apnews.com/article/7bcd44a110cc4e5529e153fd7311022b
- People Magazine – https://people.com/hero-father-dies-saving-son-oklahoma-wildfires-11698797
- FOX Weather – https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/wildfire-outbreak-likely-new-mexico-texas-oklahoma-march-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle – https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather-forecast/article/california-storm-texas-wildfire-blizzard-20226042.php
- The Times – https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/where-us-storms-death-toll-xs8mt3wgj
