Ross Fire Grows to 90K Acres, 38% Contained

The Ross Fire, burning south of Olney in Palo Pinto and Jack Counties, grew to 90,400 acres as of Sept. 4, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The grass-fed, wind-driven blaze is now the largest summer wildfire in the state, according to the Forest Service’s Wildfire Activity Map.

Fire officials said the wildfire started on the afternoon of Aug. 24 under elevated fire conditions, and ignited along U.S. Highway 180 probably by human activity.

Texas A&M Forest Service has provided help in the form of additional firefighters, heavy equipment and firefighting airplanes. It has burned as far north as the U.S. Highway 380 West near Bryson, fire maps show.

It has destroyed 167 structures, including 18 occupied residences, and damaged 95 structures, the Forest Service said. Firefighters have saved 453 structures. No fatalities have been reported.