Ross Fire doubles to 80,000 acres, destroys structures
The fast-moving wildfire remained 12% contained Wednesday morning as dangerous heat complicated firefighting efforts west of Fort Worth.
A fast-moving wildfire west of Fort Worth doubled in size in just three hours, scorching 80,000 acres and forcing residents in parts of Palo Pinto and Jack counties to evacuate.
The Ross Fire was 12% contained as of Thursday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The blaze started shortly after 12:25 p.m. CDT Monday near U.S. Highway 180 and Ross Watson Road, west of Palo Pinto. Within an hour of firefighters arriving, it had grown into a five-alarm fire, Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District 1 Fire Chief Danny Watkins said.
Officials said the fire had destroyed some structures, but "the extent of the damage and the type of structures affected are unknown at this time." The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
Flames from the Ross Fire burning west of Fort Worth, Texas on Aug. 24, 2026. (Image credit: Texas Division of Emergency Management)
Hundreds of firefighters were battling the flames as aircraft dropped water and fire retardant over the area. Officials warned that the fire had significant potential to continue spreading. The fire grew from 25,000 to 50,000 acres in about three hours overnight Monday, according to Texas A&M updates.
Graford remained on alert as officials strongly encouraged evacuations in parts of Palo Pinto and Jack counties. The advisory covered areas north of Fortune Bend Road toward Highway 16 and FM 337, Turpin Road and Highway 337, as well as communities east of Perrin near FM 4, FM 2210, Rock Creek Road and Hassel Ranch Road.
An evacuation center was open at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center, 1114 Texas Highway 59 in Jacksboro.
The Ross Fire is also impacting schools in the area. Graford ISD canceled Wednesday classes, while Perrin-Whitt CISD delayed its start until 10 a.m., with buses running two hours late. Multiple roads were closed, including sections of FM 4 and highways 254 and 337.
The fire also forced officials to close a portion of U.S. 180 near its point of origin Monday.
Record heat fuels fire growth
The fire grew rapidly amid record heat Monday. Dallas-Fort Worth reached 109 degrees, breaking the Aug. 24 record of 107 set in 2023, while the day’s low of 86 tied the area’s all-time warmest minimum temperature for the ninth time.
AccuWeather is forecasting a high of 103 degrees in Palo Pinto on Wednesday, with sizzling sunshine and little rain expected. Tempertures in the triple digits are forecast to remain through the rest of the week.
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