Residents seek answers about compensation, while city leaders and regulators investigate landfill operations before the destructive wildfire.
In the weeks following the Stinky Fire, residents who lost homes, property, and personal belongings continue searching for answers about what happened, who may be responsible, and whether compensation will be available for those affected by the disaster.
The fire, which originated at the City of Amarillo landfill before spreading into Potter County, burned approximately 2,335 acres and damaged multiple properties. According to preliminary assessments from Potter County officials and the Amarillo Office of Emergency Management, 52 homes were destroyed, one home sustained heavy damage, seven homes suffered minor damage, and 17 additional homes were affected in surrounding areas.
As recovery efforts continue, attorneys representing affected residents are preparing legal claims against the City of Amarillo, while city officials conduct an internal review of landfill operations and state regulators continue examining compliance issues identified before the fire.
Attorneys Pursuing Claims on Behalf of Fire Victims
Amarillo law firm Lovell, Isern & Farabough, L.L.P. announced that it is investigating and pursuing claims against the City of Amarillo on behalf of individuals and businesses affected by the fire.
During a recent town hall, attorney Kevin Isern discussed legal rights available to fire victims, answered questions, and explained the claims process.
According to Isern, potential legal claims may include actions under the Texas Tort Claims Act, negligence claims against contractors connected to landfill operations, and an inverse condemnation claim against the city.
“The Tort Claims Act is when governments, cities, and municipalities do things that cause harm,” Isern said.
He explained that governmental immunity can be waived in certain circumstances.
“There are certain exceptions to suing the state or the city, it’s kind of the old theory of, ‘the king can do no wrong, except when they allow you to sue them, and because this is a government entity and a governmental function that did not handle properly, they are responsible, they have waived immunity for the damages they have caused,” said Isern.
According to Isern, claims brought under the Tort Claims Act are subject to a cap of approximately $600,000, which would be divided among affected claimants.
Inverse Condemnation Claim Also Being Considered
Isern said his firm is also preparing an inverse condemnation claim against the city.
“When it’s an unlawful taking without notice to these people, and that’s what the fire ended up happening, was that the fire took their property without notice, and so the city will be responsible for the fair market value of everything they lost,” said Isern.
He described inverse condemnation as a separate cause of action from claims pursued under the Tort Claims Act.
Whether such claims ultimately succeed will depend on future legal proceedings.
June 16 Notice Deadline
One of the most urgent issues discussed during the town hall meeting was a June 16 deadline for residents seeking to preserve potential Tort Claims Act claims.
“You have to let the city know by June 16th that you have a claim and you need to say who you are, what property you lost, the estimated value of the property you lost, the vehicles you lost, animals, clothing, everything,” Isern said.
“You have to give them notice by June 16th. If you don’t give them notice by June 16th, then you cannot file a Tort claim against them; you can still file an inverse condemnation and negligence claim, but that is a completely different cause of action.”
Isern also spoke about the short filing period.
“There is such a short time frame that the city allows. It is a 30-day window, and they do that so people don’t sue them for things that they have done wrong, but that is why we wanted to have this meeting today to let everybody know that they have got to get us the information and get the information to the city so they can protect their claims,” he said.
State Investigation Identified Landfill Violations
As legal claims take shape, questions have also emerged about landfill operations before the fire.
According to records from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), a complaint was filed on April 30 alleging that the Amarillo landfill was improperly covering deposited waste.
Inspectors later determined the landfill was in violation of Texas Administrative Code Chapter 330, Subchapter D, Rule 165. The regulation requires Type I landfills to apply six inches of compacted earthen material over waste at the end of each operating day.
According to TCEQ findings, investigators cited the landfill for:
“Failure to apply six inches of well-compacted earthen material to deposited waste to control disease vectors, fires, odors, windblown litter or waste, and scavenging.”
TCEQ determined the landfill was in violation on May 7 and issued a formal Notice of Violation on May 20.
City officials have confirmed that the complaint remains unresolved.
Records cited by city officials also indicate that the Amarillo landfill has faced complaints and compliance concerns dating back to 2003.
Equipment Problems Revealed During Inspection
Information released during the city's review has also revealed equipment and operational challenges at the landfill before the fire.
According to findings discussed publicly by city officials, landfill staff informed inspectors that key equipment had broken down approximately one month before the April 30 inspection.
Although some repairs had been completed, personnel reportedly stated they were unable to keep pace with incoming waste volumes.
Inspectors were also informed that a vehicle used to apply alternative daily cover was inoperable and that replacement parts were unavailable because the equipment had become obsolete.
During the inspection, investigators observed significant amounts of uncovered waste at the active working face.
According to reports, landfill personnel planned to borrow dump trucks from another city department in an effort to address the issue.
The findings have become part of a broader review of landfill operations now underway within the city.
Mayor Calls for Policy Changes
During a press conference addressing the fire, Mayor Cole Stanley said he plans to recommend policy changes following what he described as a breakdown in communication and oversight.
“We should not have a policy that does not speak to the fact that our city manager, by the charter, is governed to keep us fully advised of all needs of the city,” Stanley said.
“He didn’t know about it, we didn’t know about it until it was too late, and so that’s a big problem.”
Stanley said City Manager Grayson Path is overseeing an internal investigation involving data, documentation, emails, and staff performance connected to landfill operations.
The mayor also said he intends to recommend adding a compliance component to the city's internal audit department.
“We need a compliance component with our internal auditor and the internal auditor department to make sure that there is a structure in place, perhaps automated, that allows for city management to see a red flag when it comes up, and then that can be pushed out downstream,” Stanley said.
City Leaders Say Investigation Is Ongoing
During the same press conference, Councilmember Don Tipps emphasized that city officials are still gathering facts.
“The timing of it just looks really poor, but we don’t know that that violation contributed to this fire,” Tipps said.
“A lot of the times the cover is more to keep it down; it can also smother if there is some smoldering, things like that going on. We don’t know if this was a contributing factor.”
When asked about potential lawsuits or city liability, Tipps said officials are waiting for the investigation to be completed.
“We have to complete this investigation to find out what happened and why,” Tipps said.
Both Stanley and Tipps said they intend to continue pursuing answers regarding the fire and its impact on residents.
“We’re gonna get to the bottom of it as your elected officials,” Tipps said.
Landfill Superintendent No Longer Employed
The city's ongoing review has already resulted in a leadership change at the landfill.
Approximately one hour before the Mayor Stanley's press conference, Path released a statement indicating that landfill superintendent Ricky Rivera was no longer employed by the City of Amarillo.
In a written statement, Path said he had reviewed materials associated with the TCEQ investigation and supporting documentation related to landfill operations.
“I have had the opportunity to review the materials associated with the compliance investigation conducted by TCEQ on or about April 30, 2026, and supporting documentation related to City landfill operations,” Path said.
“As a result of my review and discussions with my executive team, the landfill superintendent is no longer employed by the City. This development does not end my inquiry into this matter.”
Path said the city remains committed to addressing operational concerns and improving oversight.
City Manager Says Review Will Examine What Happened
Path also released a video update addressing the fire response and TCEQ findings.
“Given what our community has just experienced, this is deeply concerning to me,” Path said.
“Prior to the fire on Sunday, and prior to the notice of violation being issued, I was not aware that there might be a compliance concern of this kind at the landfill.”
Path noted that landfill fires can occur because combustible materials often enter the waste stream.
“The reality is that many combustible items and materials that can start fires do end up in the trash and in the landfill,” he said.
According to Path, landfill crews are typically able to detect fires early and extinguish them before they spread.
“Unfortunately, in this case, the fire started at some point and was not identified until we received the report of smoke on Sunday,” Path said. “A day when the landfill is not in service.”
Path said the city is conducting a comprehensive review.
“We will be looking closely at what happened, when it happened, who knew what and when, and the circumstances behind this violation,” he said.
He also acknowledged his responsibility for city operations.
“As city manager, I am ultimately responsible for how our organization performs,” Path said.
Residents Continue Recovery While Awaiting Answers
For many families, the legal and regulatory questions surrounding the fire remain secondary to the personal losses they suffered.
Isern described the impact on residents who were forced to evacuate.
“They weren’t looking to get a fire to start to damage their homes or their property, and when it happened, they were told to get out,” he said.
“They didn’t have time to save anything. These people have lost their documents, their wills, their passports, their driver’s licenses, their family pictures, their everything. They have lost everything, and it’s just terrible.”
Mayor Stanley also addressed residents directly during his press conference.
“I don’t understand what you’re going through, but I know everything that you’re feeling is 100% right in the moment, and, and I wish you weren’t here in this capacity. I cannot change that, but what I can do is walk this out in one step at a time, moving forward,” Stanley said.
He later offered an apology to those affected.
“We apologize that we’re in this position, but we’re gonna do everything we can to make it better,” Stanley said.
As the city's internal investigation continues and attorneys prepare legal claims, questions remain about landfill operations, communication failures, equipment readiness, regulatory compliance, and the events leading up to the fire.
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