Report: Marshall Fire victims file lawsuit against Xcel Energy

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – On Thursday, a class-action lawsuit filed against Xcel Energy in relation to the devastating wildfire that started this past December.

Our sister station in Denver has a copy of that lawsuit which says Xcel Energy was negligent for not keeping up its powerlines. It blames the power company for the wildfire that destroyed almost 1,100 homes.

To get some perspective, 11 News spoke with a woman who helps fire victims navigate recovery. She says isn’t the first time a lawsuit has been filed after a wildfire adding this is something she’s seen before after other fires. She adds they are hearing from a lot of victims who are getting more frustrated as time goes on.

“People are really, very anxious to get information and anxious to get results. And there is a lot of frustration out there in the wildfire-impacted community,” Amy Bach, the Executive Director of United Policyholders said.

To get some perspective, 11 News spoke with a woman who helps fire victims navigate recovery. She says isn’t the first time a lawsuit has been filed after a wildfire adding this is something she’s seen before after other fires. She adds they are hearing from a lot of victims who are getting more frustrated as time goes on.

“People are really, very anxious to get information and anxious to get results. And there is a lot of frustration out there in the wildfire-impacted community,” Amy Bach, the Executive Director of United Policyholders said.

Since there hasn’t been an official cause of the fire, Bach says victims need to see what they can get from their insurance companies, start making an inventory of things lost, and try to stay informed.

“The most important thing that we say to people is try to take care of yourself and your family, get as much sleep as you can because trying to make all these decisions at once is overwhelming.”

11 News reached out to Xcel Energy for a comment on the lawsuit. A spokesperson sent the following via email.

“We’re aware of the filing and we’re currently reviewing it. As you know, the cause of the fire is still under investigation and we continue to work with authorities. Our own investigation shows that our equipment in the area of the fire was properly maintained and inspected, consistent with our high standards, and we have not seen evidence that our equipment ignited the fire.”

We’ll keep you updated as this moves through the courts.