Editing Twelve Tribes communities (section)

=== Recent activity ===
On December 24, 2021, Twelve Tribes members burned scrap metal, branches and other junk on one of their properties. The fire was contained and its embers were buried. A week later, on December 30, the weather had become more dry, leading to embers reigniting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thakore · |first=Ishan |date=2025-09-24 |title=Xcel settles Marshall Fire lawsuit just before trial begins in Boulder |url=https://www.cpr.org/2025/09/24/xcel-energy-marshall-fire-settlement/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=Colorado Public Radio |language=en}}</ref> Videos were taken of a burning shed and field.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-11 |title=Everything we know about the ‘cult’ living where Colorado fires allegedly began |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/colorado-fires-boulder-twelve-tribes-cult-b1986654.html |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> High winds carried sparks from the fire towards a broken power line about 2,000 feet away, which caused an explosion, resulting in the [[Marshall Fire]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Phillips|first1=Noelle|last2=Bradbury|first2=Shelly|title=Marshall fire started by week-old embers on Twelve Tribes property and a sparking Xcel power line, Boulder sheriff says|website=The Denver Post|date=June 8, 2023|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2023/06/08/marshall-fire-cause-origina-investigation-boulder-colorado/|access-date=March 15, 2026|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608144654/https://www.denverpost.com/2023/06/08/marshall-fire-cause-origina-investigation-boulder-colorado/}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2026}}

In the aftermath, the Twelve Tribes members were concluded to not be at fault for the fire. According to Boulder County District Attorney Dougherty, there was no sign that the Twelve Tribes members created an unjustifiable risk when starting their fire,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-30 |title=Marshall Fire: Body-camera footage shows investigators talking to Twelve Tribes member |url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/wildfire/marshall-fire/marshall-fire-investigation-twelve-tribes-bodycam-video/73-141ed049-e778-4499-be75-20879f85c9f9 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=KUSA.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and said the incident had been handled responsibly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prentzel |first=Olivia |date=2023-06-08 |title=Marshall fire was caused by reignited burn on residential property, Xcel Energy power line, Boulder County authorities say |url=https://coloradosun.com/2023/06/08/marshall-fire-investigation-results-colorado/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=The Colorado Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> Initially, no charges were held against either the Twelve Tribes members or [[Xcel Energy]], whose broken power line was investigated.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-09 |title=The cause of Colorado's most destructive wildfire ever revealed |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cause-colorados-destructive-wildfire-ever-revealed-rcna88576 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> However, a later report concluded that Xcel Energy was primarily at fault. Xcel Energy was sued by victims of the fire for their involvement. However, Xcel Energy denied having any role, and later settled, the terms of which include stating that it was not at fault.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thakore · |first=Ishan |date=2025-09-24 |title=Xcel settles Marshall Fire lawsuit just before trial begins in Boulder |url=https://www.cpr.org/2025/09/24/xcel-energy-marshall-fire-settlement/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=Colorado Public Radio |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Xcel Energy ‘prepared to go to trial’ to fight Marshall Fire liability {{!}} Utility Dive |url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/xcel-energy-marshall-wildfire/756536/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=www.utilitydive.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The Twelve Tribes were not listed as a defendant in the trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-21 |title=Marshall fire lawsuit set for trial in September as attorneys battle over cult’s role in catastrophic blaze |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2025/08/21/marshall-fire-xcel-trial/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref>