Texas wildfire mushrooms within hours, ripping through ranchlands
Wind-driven flames forced evacuations, closed roads and damaged structures as crews battled difficult conditions and sought federal aid.
- On Tuesday, the Ross Fire expanded to 50,000 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties, remaining only 5% contained as dry, windy conditions fueled rapid overnight growth since the blaze started Monday afternoon.
- Extreme heat and drought conditions, currently affecting 77% of Texas, continue to drive the fire's behavior as the National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning forecasting temperatures up to 109 degrees.
- Jack County Emergency Management ordered residents near Bartons Chapel to evacuate immediately, directing traffic east on County Road 2210 toward Highway 281. An evacuation center opened at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center in Jacksboro on Highway 59.
- The Federal Aviation Administration imposed a temporary flight restriction over the fire zone to ensure safe disaster-relief operations, while officials closed Farm to Market Road 4 and warned motorists against driving into smoke.
- This fire occurs amid a severe national wildfire season, with firefighters nationwide responding to 50,580 incidents as of August 23 while the United States remains at National Preparedness Level 5 since July due to stretched resources.
57 Articles
57 Articles
The Gilmer Mirror
MyParisTexasRoss Fire grows to one of the largest wildfires on record in North Texas
By Alejandra Martinez, The Texas Tribune August 27, 2026 FORT WORTH — The Ross Fire has grown into one of the largest wildfires in the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s recorded history, scorching 85,000 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties in just three days. The fire, which began Monday near Palo Pinto, grew with extraordinary speed…
Texas' Ross fire, burning 100 miles west of Dallas, grows to 85,000 acres
PALO PINTO, Texas — The Ross fire grew to an estimated 85,000 acres Thursday as firefighters continued working to keep the blaze from pushing toward communities around Possum Kingdom Lake and State Highway 16, according to the Texas A&M Forest…
Hanford Sentinel
Texas' Ross fire burns 80,000 acres as containment reaches 12%, officials say
DALLAS —Crews battling the 80,000-acre Ross fire caught a break from the weather Wednesday as cooler, more humid conditions brought some relief after days of extreme heat and rapid fire growth across western North Texas. Humidity was higher, temperatures were…
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