A mid-May 2026 wildfire originating at the City of Amarillo’s municipal landfill, dubbed the “Stinky Fire,” has caused widespread property damage in the Texas panhandle. Preliminary information indicates the fire began within the landfill before spreading under high-wind conditions into surrounding residential areas. 

Key Facts

Affected Zip Codes: 79124 and 79108

The fire was first reported on May 17, 2026, at the Amarillo landfill located at 16250 Bezner Road. Responders identified a significant fire in a landfill pit area, with suppression efforts beginning that day.

• The landfill is owned and operated by the City of Amarillo.
• A third-party contractor was engaged shortly after the fire began to assist with containment.
• High winds and Red Flag conditions contributed to the fire breaching containment and spreading beyond the landfill.
• The fire ultimately impacted approximately 2,300 acres and 77 homes, including 52 total losses.

Working Theories

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and we are also focused on the City of Amarillo’s apparent failures in the operation and maintenance of the landfill, including:

• fire prevention and monitoring practices,
• compliance with daily cover and fire mitigation protocols, and
• management of combustible waste streams.

Given the inherent fire risk associated with landfills, liability theories will likely emphasize systemic operational failures rather than a single ignition source.

Governmental Immunity Issues and Critical Notice Deadline

The threshold issue is whether claims against the City of Amarillo and its contractors are barred by governmental immunity.  We are evaluating these theories as more information comes to light.  However, it is critical to note that claimants must comply with municipal notice requirements, which impose a 30-day deadline to preserve claims against the City. Based on the May 17 fire date, the notice deadline is June 16, 2026. Failure to provide notice in a timely manner may significantly impair recovery. In order to preserve your rights, please provide details of any claims you have as soon as possible, including:

Identity of the Claimant(s)

Identity of the claimant(s), including:

• full name(s) of the property owner(s) and/or insurer(s) and
• address and contact information (mailing address, phone, email).

Description of the Damage or Injury

A good faith attempt to identify all categories of loss and quantify those categories, including:

• real property damage (total loss, structural damage);
• personal property damage;
• business interruption or loss of use (if applicable);
• additional living expenses/displacement; and
• auto/vehicle damage.

Please contact us if you have any questions or need assistance.