Rural Texas wildfire expands past 78 square miles, forcing evacuations

"It just took off way too fast," said Katie Rochelle, whose fifth-generation family canoe rental business lost its office and repair shop outside Graford.

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Some of the company's buses and trailers also were destroyed, but the canoes appeared OK for now.

"I don't know what we're going to do now," said her father, Buddy Rochelle.

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Fueled by whipping winds along with extremely hot and dry conditions, the Ross Fire jumped creeks and rivers, residents said.

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Her husband, a local firefighter, helped save their home overnight, but she was worried it could go up in flames anytime.

"I don't know how our house survived," she said.

"Now we're waiting and praying. Praying it doesn't get our house. That's all we can do."

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Emergency officials expected the fire to keep growing as temperatures rise.

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Rochelle, whose great-grandparents started the canoe rental business in 1969, said the fire also burned a family home built on the property about 100 years ago.

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The National Weather Service warned of a high risk of fast-moving fires in Southern California north of Los Angeles, and a red flag warning was issued through Friday.

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Firefighters in Nevada were making progress in slowing a fire that forced thousands to evacuate from Reno over the weekend after flames spread dangerously close to densely populated neighborhoods.

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The number of people in the Reno area under mandatory evacuation orders dropped significantly to about 5,000.

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At least seven people — three first responders and four civilians — were injured.

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The Hawk Fire has destroyed at least 47 homes across about 23 square miles (60 square kilometers).

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The fire near the California state line began Saturday and rapidly grew in size on Sunday.

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Authorities in Nevada said on Tuesday that the fire was 27% contained.

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Authorities opened evacuation centers, some schools canceled classes and ranchers and a livestock commission offered barns to temporarily hold animals in need of evacuation.

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Fire officials in Reno have blamed human activity for the Hawk Fire, saying it was either intentionally set or accidental.

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Some schools and roads were closed Tuesday as the fire continued raging.

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The following roads were also closed: FM 4 North at the county line, Highway 337 northbound at Highway 254, Highway 254 westbound at Highway 337, Highway 254 eastbound at Highway 16, Highway 337 at Grassy Ridge Road, Highway 337 at West Division and Highway 337 at Dye Road.

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In Palo Pinto County, Graford ISD and Perrin-Whitt CISD canceled school on Tuesday.

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Jack County Rural Fire Department asked everyone to avoid the area where firefighters are working to stop the fire.

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Flames are burning grass, brush, and trees.

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On the ground, crews and fire trucks are conducting defensive operations on ranch land along FM 4, just a few miles north of Palo Pinto, working to protect structures, including at least one home and two barns.

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A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for southern Jack County in the area near and east of Barton's Chapel.

Residents in this area are instructed to evacuate immediately by heading east on Highway 281.

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Firefighters are also rotating in and out of the line to cool down due to the intense heat.

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US Highway 180 has been shut down near the scene of the fire, county officials say.

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Danny Watkins, fire chief of Palo Pinto County ESD1, said at about 5 p.m. on Monday that they were first notified of the fire along US 180 west of Palo Pinto at about 12:26 p.m.

Watkins said crews arrived at the scene in about five minutes, but that within an hour, the fire had grown to five alarms.

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No evacuations have been ordered, but residents of Palo Pinto are encouraged to remain alert and to closely monitor conditions.

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No injuries have been reported.

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Anyone needing help evacuating can call Palo Pinto County at 940-659-2085.

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Rancher Casey Armstrong and his friends and family worked throughout the night and into the day to evacuate hundreds of cattle and horses from restricted areas in Graford.

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Armstrong said the Ross Fire came within about 150 yards of his home, and while it's safe for now, it has destroyed some of their structures at other ranches.

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Armstrong said the Ross Fire came within about 150 yards of his home, and while it's safe for now, it has destroyed some of their structures at other ranches.

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About 11 miles away, the CBS News Texas chopper captured a home engulfed in flames near the 9000 block of Chick Bend, just off the Brazos River.

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"We are very much grieving," said Wendy Shaw, the CEO of the Longhorn Council Scouting America. "And it's going to be hard. So, Worth Ranch has been part of scouting since — for 97 years. It is a treasure, and we are grieving, you know."

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Back in Graford, Hall and other volunteers have turned the Jack Rabbit Corner Store into a makeshift command post, giving fire crews relief before they're back on the front line.

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Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Texas' request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto and Jack counties.

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"I thank the Trump Administration for the swift approval of this grant, which will help Texas suppress this wildfire and protect lives and property. Texans must limit any activity that can cause a spark and heed the guidance of state and local officials to prevent additional wildfires and keep themselves and their loved ones safe."

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The approval of a Fire Management Assistance Grant makes the state eligible for 75% reimbursement from the federal government for eligible costs associated with wildfire suppression, according to the governor's office.

These grants are available to states and local entities to support the mitigation, management and control of fires that threaten to become major disasters.

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The Federal Aviation Administration has instituted a seven-mile radius temporary flight restriction in Palo Pinto County to "provide a safe environment for firefighting aircraft operations."

The restriction took effect at 6 a.m. on Aug. 25, expires at 8 p.m. on Sept. 1, and prohibits pilots from operating aircraft — including drones — in the area.

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US Representative Roger Williams, R-TX 25, whose district spans from Arlington to just west of Abilene and encompasses Palo Pinto County and Jack County, is asking the public to pray for those affected by the Ross Fire and for the firefighters still battling the wildfire.

"My team and I will continue to monitor this situation closely. Please see additional resources below," said in a statement on social media.

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As the Texas A&M Forest Service puts it, flying hobby drones near wildfires could injure or kill firefighters and hamper their ability to protect lives, property and natural resources.

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"Aerial firefighting may be suspended until unauthorized drones leave the area, which could result in a larger wildfire."

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The fire is currently affecting parts of Palo Pinto and Jack County, impacting 40,354 people in total, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

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The US Drought Monitor Map reports that 95% of Palo Pinto County is considered abnormally dry, with 5% in a moderate drought.

The latest readings, published Aug. 20, show conditions worsened from the previous week, when 45% of the county was not under any drought designation and the rest was considered abnormally dry.

Jack County had similar conditions, with only 56% of the county considered abnormally dry last week.

Now, 25% of the county is in a moderate drought with the rest being considered abnormally dry.

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Wildfires have burned 7.8 million acres across the U.S. so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

That's well above the 10-year average of 4.7 million acres for this point in the year.

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NIFC reported 2.3 million acres in active fires and 22,183 personnel working on fires nationwide as of Tuesday.

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Texas attorney general and Republican candidate for the US Senate, Ken Paxton, issued a call on social media for the public to pray for those impacted by the Ross Fire.

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The Ross Fire's growth was staggering early Tuesday, with the blaze reported to be expanding by roughly 6,000 acres per hour around 6 a.m.

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Local resident Paris Eichman captured video Monday, Aug. 24, showing an aircraft gathering water from the lake before flying back toward the fire to drop it on the flames.

"I watched them get water from the lake and fly out to disperse the water on to flames over and over again," Eichman wrote on Facebook.

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A wildfire evacuation alert was issued around 5 a.m. on Aug. 25 for an area southeast of Highway 4 and FM 2210 as the Ross Fire spread north and east toward southern Jack County.

The alert urged residents in the affected area to leave immediately and travel east on FM 2210.

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That alert has since been superseded by another alert and is no longer active, according to the emergency notification.

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JW Trammell first went out to help with cattle around 6:50 p.m. on Monday as the Ross Fire burned toward the back of the ranch.

He returned around 2 a.m. on Tuesday with trailers to begin moving about 200 head of cattle.

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Trammell said the ranch runs north to south, meaning a shift in winds could send the fire across the property.

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He said the goal is to be proactive and move the cattle before the fire becomes an immediate threat: "If you wait till the last minute on it to do anything, then you waited too long."

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Storms and rain moved into the area Tuesday morning, bringing some relief to firefighters and ranchers dealing with the massive Ross Fire, but showers are expected to end this morning.

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Texas also has nine other active wildfires, with the second-largest being the Rio Escondido fire in Hamilton County.

It's currently 2,500 acres in size and 30% contained.

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Palo Pinto County is a major cattle-producing area.

The latest available Census of Agriculture data, from 2023, counted about 47,000 cattle and calves in the county.

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Dangerous heat will continue across North Texas on Aug. 25, with temperatures reaching as high as 109 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

An Extreme Heat Warning and Heat Advisory are in effect across the region.

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The National Weather Service is urging residents to stay cool and hydrated, limit time outdoors and avoid any activities that could spark a wildfire.

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Because of weather conditions, Texas is at Level 3 on the state's five-level Wildland Fire Preparedness scale, meaning wildfire activity is affecting several regions of the state due to drought, dry vegetation, or frequent fire weather events.

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