A rapidly growing wildfire that started Monday west of Fort Worth in Palo Pinto County has crossed into Jack County and has consumed over 50,000 acres as of Tuesday morning, officials said.
The blaze, known as the “Ross Fire,” was about 5% contained as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, the Texas A&M Forest Service reported. Residents in southern Jack County were given orders to evacuate about 3 a.m., KXAS-TV reported.
Crews worked overnight to protect structures in the path of the fire, Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District 1 Fire Chief Danny Watkins said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
“They were met with erratic, aggressive fire behavior mixed with a heavy fuel load and the weather conditions,” Watkins said. “They’ve been doing the best they can.”
The primary objective for firefighters Tuesday is structural protection, Watkins said.
Extreme fire behavior on the #RossFire in Palo Pinto County on Aug. 24, 2026. The fire has large growth potential.
Credit: Texas A&M Forest Service
🚨 Stay wildfire aware! Listen to local officials.
📲 See smoke/fire? Call 911.
📍Active fire map: https://t.co/JiP5HPST9y pic.twitter.com/lOWFLBWcve
— Incident Information – Texas A&M Forest Service (@AllHazardsTFS) August 25, 2026
Palo Pinto County ESD1 warned residents on Facebook about 2:40 a.m. that the Ross Fire is “a monster” and said it had burned over 25,000 acres in 15 hours.
Graford ISD and Perrin-Whitt CISD have canceled school, while the city of Graford remains on alert, officials said. At least five structures are known to have been burned, and additional damage assessments are expected to be conducted later Tuesday today.
The Jack County Sheriff’s Office urged residents on the Highway 4 corridor to pay close attention to the wildfire, according to a Facebook post made at 4:45 a.m.
“Please take a minute and pray for Jack County,” the post reads.
Officials are bringing in aircraft and other state and local resources to fight the fire, the Jack County Rural Fire Department said on Facebook. Crews were holding the fire south of Farm to Market Road 2210 and Barton Chapel Road.
“Our biggest concern today is the weather,” officials said in the post. “Conditions are expected to deteriorate as the day progresses, and the potential for the fire to escape current containment efforts will increase.”
Donations of water and sports drinks may be dropped off at Clear Fork Bank in Mineral Wells. Large donations of bottled water may also be delivered to Dempsey Airport, 1348 W. U.S. 180.
Tuesday afternoon update
A team of firefighters has been dispersed to battle the fire Tuesday afternoon as more fire activity is anticipated as the day heats up, Amy Myers, spokesperson for Palo Pinto County Emergency Service District 1, said in an update about noon.
Temperatures are expected to reach 108 degrees Tuesday with relative humidity around 16%, exacerbating fire conditions, Myers said. Steady winds of about 20 mph with gusts up to 27 mph will make firefighting efforts challenging.
Myers said community members who want to help can also send a monetary donation that can help to purchase essential resources. “We have a lot of disabled vehicles and fire trucks and assets that they’re going to need some repair in the coming days, and we’ve got to get them up and running,” she said.
Monetary donations to the Palo Pinto County ESD No. 1 can be made here.
The Ross Fire that started west of Fort Worth in Palo Pinto County on Monday, Aug. 24, had already consumed 50,000 acres as of Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, officials say. Palo Pinto County ESD 1
Aircraft are the most powerful tools available to wildland firefighting, and any non-firefighting drones or other aircraft flying in the area while those operations are ongoing can stop the firefighting operations. “So we request that people please keep them out of the air in the temporary no-fly zone, and to avoid the area where possible,” Kayla Driver, Texas A&M Forest Service spokesperson, said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Driver said that while structures have been damaged and crews are working to protect them, there is no count of the number or type of buildings affected. “Right now, structure protection and life is our utmost priority,” she said.
Various resources including dozers on the ground and engines are working to protect structures. Large air tankers are dropping retardant along with helicopters assisting with targeted bucket drops. These operations are expected to continue, though changing weather conditions and high fuel receptivity can be challenging, she said.
Twin Lakes Activity Center at 1114 Texas Highway 59 Jacksboro is open for evacuations, and the Jack County Fair Barn is open for animals, officials with the City of Jacksboro said in a social media post.
This story was originally published August 25, 2026 at 10:16 AM.
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