Region
Ross Fire tops 90,000 acres west of Parker County; drought and smoke conditions persist
The fire in Palo Pinto and Jack counties was 38% contained as of Thursday morning. Investigators say it was human-caused, starting from roadside equipment or vehicle use.
The Ross Fire, which started Aug. 24 along U.S. 180 in Palo Pinto County, had burned roughly 90,400 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties and was 38% contained as of Thursday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service's update on InciWeb. CBS Texas described it as the second-largest wildfire in North Texas history.
The Forest Service reported 157 structures destroyed and 140 damaged, with 453 saved. Its law-enforcement division determined the fire was human-caused and originated from equipment or vehicle use near the roadside, though the specific ignition source could not be identified.
Palo Pinto County is the county immediately west of Parker County, and the conditions that fed the fire apply here too. The Fort Worth Report noted that Fort Worth has been in moderate drought since Aug. 11 after more than a month without measurable rain, and TCEQ declared an Ozone Action Day for the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Sept. 1. Check Parker County's burn-ban status before any outdoor burning, and watch the Forest Service incident page for smoke and air-quality updates.
Sources: InciWeb: Ross Fire daily update; Fort Worth Report; The Texas Tribune; CBS Texas; Weatherford Democrat (Ozone Action Day)
How this was sourced: Texas A&M Forest Service updates on InciWeb, with reporting by the Fort Worth Report, The Texas Tribune and CBS Texas. Figures are as of the morning of Sept. 3 and change daily.