Overview
- A grass and brush wildfire that ignited near Ross rapidly expanded to about 50,000 acres and was reported between 5% and 8% contained in Tuesday updates from Texas A&M Forest Service and InciWeb.
- Mandatory and recommended evacuations have been issued for parts of Jack and Palo Pinto counties and shelters were opened in Jacksboro to receive residents and animals.
- Firefighters are focusing on structural protection after the blaze destroyed or damaged multiple buildings, including extensive catastrophic damage to Worth Ranch youth camp, with no injuries reported so far.
- State, local and mutual aid resources have been deployed, heavy equipment and aircraft are operating under a Temporary Flight Restriction, and FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to boost the response.
- Officials say the fire’s rapid spread was driven by more than a month without measurable rain, triple‑digit heat, low humidity and gusty winds, and they warn those conditions leave the blaze with continued large growth potential.