Overview
- The Ross Fire began on August 24, 2026, just north of U.S. Highway 180 in Palo Pinto County and grew quickly to roughly 50,000 acres within a day.
- As of the Sept. 12 incident update, incident command reported the fire at an estimated 90,400 acres with containment at 83 percent.
- Unified command led by Texas A&M Forest Service has shifted operations to mop-up, gridding and continuous patrols while using dozers, firing operations, air reconnaissance and a state-first ground-based retardant application.
- More than 150 structures were destroyed and earlier evacuations and road closures have been lifted as officials continue damage assessment and an investigation that lists the cause as 'Equipment Use.'
- Prolonged high heat, a long dry spell and gusty winds pushed fire risk higher, strained regional resources, and prompted a FEMA Fire Management Assistance Grant to help cover suppression costs.