Out-Of-Court Settlement Reached in Lawsuit over Wildfire
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota-based Black Hills Power has reached an out-of-court settlement with landowners who accused the utility of negligently causing a wildfire.
The Rapid City Journal reports court documents indicate a federal judge has signed off on a confidential settlement between Black Hills Power and the 87 plaintiffs.
The settlement might also help Black Hills Power obtain landowner easements for a $54 million electrical transmission line through the Black Hills National Forest, because at least some of the plaintiffs own land in the line's path.
The lawsuit arose from the 2012 Oil Creek Fire, which burned forest and ranch land northwest of Newcastle, Wyoming. An investigator determined that a damaged Black Hills Power pole sparked the blaze.
The plaintiffs said Black Hills Power was negligent. The company denied the accusation.
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