FORT WORTH — Over a week since the Ross Fire broke out west of Fort Worth, responders are still in the thick of battling one of the largest wildfires in North Texas’ recorded history. 

And while parts of the region are expected to get some rain and slightly cooler temperatures in the next few days due to Tropical Storm Edouard, it remains to be seen how the changing weather would affect the fire.

“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,” said Laura Stevens, a public information officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service. “It is an ongoing operation, very dynamic, very changing as the weather comes in.”

The Ross Fire, which began Aug. 24 near Palo Pinto, grew with extraordinary speed in the dry ranchland. By Aug. 25, officials reported that the fire had doubled in size in a few hours to about 50,000 acres. By Aug. 26, the estimate had climbed above 80,000 acres. 

As of Sept. 1, the fire has burned just over 90,000 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties.

At the same time, the Texas A&M Forest Service said the fire is still about 31% contained, which refers to the portion of the fire’s perimeter where firefighters have established a line or barrier aimed at stopping the fire from spreading. 

Firefighters have reported extreme fire behavior, including trees torching in groups amid strong winds. Crews are struggling to put out flames in the steep and rocky terrain, according to the Forest Service. 

Two injuries have been reported among firefighters, according to Adam Turner, a public information officer with the Forest Service. Turner said one involved a minor hand injury during a traffic collision last week, and the other was a minor eye injury that was treated on scene.  

At least 157 structures, including 18 that were occupied, have also been destroyed according to an initial assessment by firefighters. Evacuation orders have been lifted, but officials told residents in or near affected areas to be prepared to leave quickly if conditions change.

Only parts of Highway Texas 254 remain closed as crews continue responding to the fire.

August was bone dry — the month will go as the driest August on record for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the Fort Worth National Weather Service office. Extreme heat will also continue, as the area’s temperatures are expected to hover near 100 degrees in the next few days. 

As much of the state experiences extreme heat, the Forest Service reports more than 80 active fires scorching over 105,500 acres across Texas, including the Ross Fire. Many of them are fully contained. 

The Forest Service reports some structures have been impacted by the Ross fire, including Worth Ranch, a 800-acre historic Scouting America camp along the Brazos River. The extent of the property damage is unknown.    

The Ross Fire is now the second-largest wildfire in the area’s history, according to the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office, behind the Possum Kingdom Complex Fire, which burned 126,734 acres in April 2011.

The response team battling the Ross Fire includes small rural departments closest to the fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service and local fire departments around the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The priorities are to protect people, defend communities and critical structures, slow the fire’s movement and build lines that can eventually hold the fire in place, according to The Texas A&M Forest Service.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Aug. 25 that FEMA had approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Ross Fire, which gives local agencies financial help and reimburses eligible firefighting costs. 

Portions of Jack County were ordered evacuated last week as the fire moved north. That order was later lifted as conditions improved, but officials have continued warning residents to remain vigilant. Palo Pinto County had issued voluntary evacuation advisories for areas threatened by the fire, but those notices have been lifted as well.

An evacuation center has been established at the Jacksboro Twin Lakes Recreation Center, and livestock relocation centers have been established in the region for residents who need somewhere to take cattle and other animals.

Smoke from the Ross Fire has been moving east and southeast into parts of North Texas, creating orange, hazy skies and affecting air quality. People with respiratory conditions, children and older adults in areas where the smoke has drifted were advised to stay inside, according to the state’s environmental regulators. 

This article first appeared on The Texas Tribune.

Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at staff@crossroadstoday.com and include the best way to reach you. See breaking news call the 25 News Now newsroom 361-576-0026.

​COPYRIGHT 2026 BY CROSSROADS TODAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.