First responders fight new flare ups in Ross Fire
The Ross Fire continues to affect thousands of acres in Palo Pinto County, and first responders are combating new flare ups in the fire that continue to pop up. FOX 4’s Alex Boyer is live with more.
PALO PINTO, Texas – The Ross Fire continues to burn in North Texas, scorching more than 85,000 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties.
Ross Fire Latest 
What we know:
As of Thursday morning, the Ross Fire is still burning, with nearly 200 firefighters spread across Palo Pinto and Jack counties continuing to work long hours to try and contain the flames.
There have been no updates from the Texas A&M Forest Service on the size of the fire and level of containment since Wednesday afternoon.
The latest on the wildfire in Palo Pinto County
FOX 4’s Dan Godwin is in Graford, Texas with the latest update on the Ross Fire. The weather seemed to cooperate a bit more on Wednesday and overnight. The latest reports show the fire remains around 12% contained with 83,000 acres burned.
On Wednesday, the weather did start to cooperate, but there’s still a long fight ahead. One official said it’s looking like “days and days.”
Voluntary evacuation orders remain in place for parts of both counties. No new evacuation orders were issued overnight.
No injuries have been reported.
What they’re saying:
A spokesperson for the Texas A&M Forest Service said more resources are heading to the fire zone.
“So, the firefighters, how are the increments? How long will they work before they’re able to take breaks?” a reporter asked.
“They’re working as needed, and each of them, we have accountability throughout our crews. So they’re watching out for each other, as well as themselves, making sure everyone stays hydrated and making sure there are adequate breaks. We do have rest and recovery during these extended response times,” said Kayla Driver with the Texas A&M Forest Service.
What we don’t know:
There’s still no word on what caused the fire, which started near Highway 180 in Palo Pinto.
Officials also have not given a firm timeline for when the fire will be fully contained or under control, citing unpredictable factors like weather, winds, and humidity.
Family vows to rebuild decades-old business 
The fire has destroyed several structures, including homes, a youth scout camp, and a canoe rental shop in Graford that’s been a family-run business for nearly 60 years.
The owners of Rochelle’s Canoe Rental said their sheds and equipment have all been destroyed. A Mineral Wells firefighter was able to save their home, but they will have to rebuild their business from scratch.
Katie Rochelle described the scary scene as the wildfire approached the property.
“I kinda stayed longer than I should because there were flames coming over the hill,” she said. “It was terrifying. The kids were crying, sad.”
“Today was my first real day to get out and walk around it,” added Buddy Rochelle, who snapped photos of the damage on Wednesday. “It just, it hit me pretty hard.”
Despite the total loss of their business, which has operated along the Brazos River since 1969, the family hopes to rebuild.
“We don’t want to close. We hope to rebuild and keep the memories going,” Katie Rochelle said. “I mean, my kids would love to keep this going.”
Ranch buildings saved by volunteers 
Firefighters work to save popular ranch from Ross Fire
A popular ranch and vacation destination in Palo Pinto County saw much of its vegetation burned by the Ross Fire, but volunteer firefighters helped save many of the structures on the 188-acre land. FOX 4’s David Sentendrey has more on their efforts.
Lake Godstone, a nature sports retreat and ranch that hosts youth groups and family reunions, saw most of its vegetation burned from the Ross Fire.
However, the structures on the 188-acre property were saved by volunteer firefighters, who FOX 4 captured pouring water onto hot spots on the ground with jugs and buckets.
“I actually saw that they needed firefighters, and they needed help out here on TikTok, and so Monday morning, we came out here,” said Aaron Lathrop, a firefighter from east Texas helping fight the Ross Fire.
Firefighters were seen putting water jugs in the nearby lake to continue putting out hot spots.
Dominic and Carol DeRosa, who manage the ranch, say it’s going to take a long time to replace the grass and vegetation the fire destroyed.
“I’m heartbroken. It’s devastating,” Carol DeRosa said. They say the fire has already caused millions of dollars in damage.
The DeRosas tell FOX 4’s David Sentendrey they had to evacuate the property and ended up in a Walmart parking lot as the fires approached.
“I just thank God for all of the firefighters, the volunteers,” Carol said.
How You Can Help 
Amy Meyer, a spokesperson for Palo Pinto County ESD1, said the firefighters on the front lines have already received an overwhelming number of donations of food, water, and other items.
At this point, the department is asking for monetary donations to help pay for firefighting equipment and supplies.
You can donate to the Graford Emergency Fire District, who is helping combat the Ross fire, at the link here.
There are also other organizations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex collecting donations to help the affected families, displaced pets and livestock, and with other needs.
The Source: The information in this article comes from broadcast reporting, interviews with affected business owners, and updates provided by local emergency officials and the Texas A&M Forest Service.