Ross fire scorches 85,300 acres as crews push to contain North Texas blaze
Fire crews continue containment efforts for the Ross fire almost a week after the wildfire spread through Palo Pinto and Jack counties. The Ross fire has burned through an estimated 85,300 acres in the counties just west of Fort Worth, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The fire remains at 31% contained as of Sunday. Fire crews Sunday have expanded to all perimeters of the Ross fire to ...
Fire from the Ross fire burns brush on Aug. 25, 2026, near Palo Pinto, Texas.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News/TNS
Fire crews continue containment efforts for the Ross fire almost a week after the wildfire spread through Palo Pinto and Jack counties.
The Ross fire has burned through an estimated 85,300 acres in the counties just west of Fort Worth, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The fire remains at 31% contained as of Sunday.
Fire crews Sunday have expanded to all perimeters of the Ross fire to contain the flames, Boe Adler, regional operations chief with the forest service, said in a video posted on social media.
Firefighters along the southwest side of the blaze secured the fire east of State Highway 16 on Saturday night, Adler said. Firefighters will continue Sunday to extinguish the flames in the area.
Fire crews were unable to access certain parts of the wildfire with equipment earlier on, but are now hiking into the areas to secure edges of the flames, he said. Responders will also be fighting the fire from above, using aircraft to assist crews on the ground, he said.
The Ross fire started Monday in Palo Pinto County, about 100 miles west of Dallas. It spread rapidly due to extreme heat, dry vegetation and gusting winds in the region. Some of its smoke prompted the National Weather Service's office in Fort Worth to issue an air quality alert.
The fire increased throughout the week growing to become one of the largest wildfires ever recorded in North Texas. The fire left a path of destruction over the past week as its flames scorched ranchland and a beloved Boy Scout camp.
No deaths or injuries have been reported.
According to numbers released by the forest service Saturday, the Ross fire destroyed 157 structures, 18 of which were homes. Another 140 structures were damaged. But firefighters were able to save 453 structures.
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