Ross Fire in North Texas Reaches 100% Containment After 90,000-Acre Run
The Ross Fire near Palo Pinto, Texas burned about 90,000 acres and destroyed at least 167 structures before crews fully contained it on Sept. 16.
The Ross Fire, which began Aug. 24 near Palo Pinto in North Texas, was fully contained on Sept. 16 after burning about 90,000 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service incident page as reported by the Texas Tribune. The National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office calls it the second-largest wildfire in the area’s history, behind the 126,734-acre Possum Kingdom Complex Fire of April 2011.
What happened
The fire grew with extraordinary speed through dry ranchland west of Fort Worth. It reached 90,400 acres at its height; by the time it was contained, mapping put it at 89,989 acres. Containment came slowly over three weeks:
| Date | Containment |
|---|---|
| Aug. 27 | 38% (after rain from Tropical Storm Edouard) |
| Sept. 3 | 57% |
| Sept. 10 | about 76% |
| Sept. 16 | Fully contained |
“Fully contained” means crews had eliminated all fuel along the fire’s perimeter. It doesn’t mean every hot spot inside the burn area is out.
The toll
At least 167 structures were destroyed, including 18 occupied homes, according to an initial assessment by firefighters reported on Sept. 16. An earlier count published Sept. 1 by the Fort Worth Report put the number at 157. Structure counts often rise as damage-assessment teams finish surveying property by property, so the final number may still change.
What caused it
Fire investigators determined the fire started along a road and was caused by equipment or a vehicle, although the specific source couldn’t be determined.
Figures as of Sept. 16, 2026.
What residents should know
Roadside ignitions from equipment, dragging chains and hot exhaust are a recurring cause of grass fires in rural Texas, especially in late-summer drought. FireVerge’s Texas state page tracks structure-fire and wildfire data for the state, and the causes section breaks down what typically starts fires. Residents returning to burned properties should coordinate with their county emergency management office and insurer first, since downed utility lines and unstable structures can stay hazardous after the flames are out.
The Ross Fire is also a reminder that large wildfires aren’t only a Western problem. Texas grass and brush, combined with drought and wind, can carry fire tens of thousands of acres in days.