Ross Fire: Texas’s Largest Summer Wildfire Since 2005

The Ross Fire ignited on August 24 in Palo Pinto County, west of Fort Worth. Within hours the blaze doubled in size, expanding to roughly 50,000 acres, and by the end of the first week it had surpassed 80,000 acres. As of early September the Texas A&M Forest Service reported the fire to be 57 % contained while still actively burning across Palo Pinto and Jack counties. The agency estimates the total area burned at about 90,400 acres, making it the largest summertime wildfire in Texas since statewide records began in 2005 and the 15th-largest fire in state history.

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The fire’s rapid expansion occurred amid an unprecedented dry spell: the Dallas-Fort Worth region experienced more than 53 consecutive days without measurable rain, the seventh-longest stretch on record. The Ross Fire follows the 2011 Possum Kingdom Complex (126,734 acres) and trails only the 2024 Smokehouse Creek Fire (over 1 million acres) in size.

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• Acreage burned: ~90,400 acres (Texas A&M Forest Service)

Ross Fire over halfway contained after burning more than 90,000 acres

• Containment: 57 % (early September update)

Two Weeks Later, Ross Fire Still Burning in North Texas

• Structures destroyed: 167 total, including 18 occupied homes (Texas A&M Forest Service)

Ross Fire over halfway contained after burning more than 90,000 acres

• Structures damaged: 95 (Texas A&M Forest Service)

Ross Fire over halfway contained after burning more than 90,000 acres

• Firefighter personnel: reports vary between 490 and 515 personnel assigned (Texas A&M Forest Service; Dallas Express)

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• Equipment: 112 ground resources and 23 aircraft have been deployed, delivering more than 434,000 gallons of retardant and 2.5 million gallons of water (multiple sources)

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• Funding: The most recent legislative session approved about $630 million for the Texas A&M Forest Service, covering suppression aircraft, equipment, volunteer departments and prescribed-fire programs (Dallas Express; Spectrum Noticias)

Ross Fire over halfway contained after burning more than 90,000 acres

Governor Greg Abbott pledged state assistance for rebuilding and urged residents to prioritize safety, emphasizing that “protect your life” remains the core message. Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd projected that full extinguishment could require up to two additional weeks. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant, providing reimbursement for eligible firefighting costs.

Two Weeks Later, Ross Fire Still Burning in North Texas

CBS News reported investigators believed a blown tire on a vehicle traveling along U.S. Highway 180 may have sparked the blaze, citing rubber fragments and tire marks as evidence. The discrepancy between a general equipment/vehicle origin and a specific blown-tire hypothesis remains unresolved.

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Personnel numbers: One source cites 490 personnel assigned, while another lists 515. Both figures come from the Texas A&M Forest Service but differ in reporting, leaving the exact staffing level unclear.

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• “The fire is estimated at 90,000 acres so there are going to be portions that may see rain, portions that may not see rain,” — Laura Stevens

Two Weeks Later, Ross Fire Still Burning in North Texas

• “To all families out there affected or maybe not yet affected, our core message remains: protect your life,” — Gov. Greg Abbott

Two Weeks Later, Ross Fire Still Burning in North Texas