Lawsuit Filed Against Xcel Energy, Marshall Fire Investigation Ongoing

BOULDER, CO — A lawsuit was brought against Xcel Energy in Boulder County District Court on Thursday, months after the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history ravaged parts of Boulder, razing more than 1,000 homes.

The lawsuit alleges that "the sparks from a powerline ignited a ground fire that came to be known as the 'Marshall Fire.'"

Eyewitness reports identifying the sparks from those power lines as a cause for the Marshall Fire are the basis of the lawsuit, attorney James Avery told CBS Denver.

"We have eyewitnesses that saw those lines apparently damaged and being repaired within the days after the fire," Avery said. "The witnesses who saw the sparks and saw the fire ignite were in this gas station and had surveillance cameras pointed in the direction of these power lines."

Avery also informed Boulder County that it might be sued over the chance that the fire was caused by an underground coal mine beneath Boulder Open Space, according to CBS Denver.

On the same day that the lawsuit was filed, Boulder's sheriff released an update on the investigation into the Marshall Fire, saying that it is "expected to take several more months."

The investigation has included the review of 911 calls, photos, videos and almost 200 tips from the community, in addition to hundreds of interviews with victims and witnesses, as well as search warrants for physical and digital property, according to the sheriff's office.

"The Sheriff’s Office recognizes the importance of this investigation and the community’s desire to understand what happened," a news release stated. "However, we believe a thorough investigation is always warranted."