Ross Fire Explodes to 50,000 Acres Overnight as Texas Burns Under Extreme Heat and Drought
A wildfire that began in western Palo Pinto County Monday afternoon, has torn through roughly 50,000 acres in under 15 hours — one of the most explosive fire runs North Texas has seen this season — with residents in nearby Jack County also being threatened.
“Getting serious guys. The Texas Ross Fire is growing faster than any wildfire I have tracked in the entire U.S. this year.” — Meteorologist Eric Graves
The blaze, named the Ross Fire, ignited near Highway 180 and Ross Watson Road at 1:28 p.m. Monday as a modest 25-acre grass fire.
By Monday evening it had already ballooned to 7,000 acres, and by early this morning, it had multiplied again to 50,000 acres, with containment holding at just 5%.
OVERNIGHT TIMELINE
11:00 PM: 7,000 acres
12:00 AM: 15,000 acres
1:00 AM: 18,000 acres
3:00 AM: 25,000 acres
6:00 AM: 50,000 acres
Ashes are falling in the area, creating a snow-like effect.
The fire isn’t confined to Palo Pinto County — it has also spread into parts of Parker and Jack counties, prompting a widening emergency response that now includes a fifth-alarm call, a Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System strike team, and Texas A&M Forest Service dozers and aircraft.
Local officials are urging — but not yet requiring — residents north of Fortune Bend Road, extending north to Highway 16 North at FM 337, to evacuate as a precaution. It’s an advisory, not a mandatory order, but authorities are asking people in the zone to leave while conditions remain volatile.
Evacuations are also occurring in Jack County.
Graford ISD is cancelling classes today due to the fire.
What’s fueling the fire’s explosive growth is the weather itself.
North Texas hit a record 109 degrees yesterday, and firefighters have had to rotate crews in and out simply to avoid heat-related injuries. Weeks without measurable rainfall have left grasses and other fine fuels critically dry, while low relative humidity and gusty southwest winds have combined to create textbook conditions for rapid fire spread.
Officials were hoping cooler overnight temperatures slow the fire’s advance, but with containment still in the single digits, the Ross Fire remains a fast-moving, unpredictable threat.
...ELEVATED FIRE THREAT THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTH TEXAS AND
WESTERN CENTRAL TEXAS...
Very hot temperatures of 105+ degrees and afternoon RH values of
15-25% will create a favorable setup for fire starts today. South
to southwest winds of 10-15 mph with occasional gusts up to 20
mph will also raise the potential for fire spread. Mid-level
clouds may dampen fire activity in the late morning hours;
however, some locations in eastern North TX could see locally gusty
winds and temporary, abrupt wind shifts during this time. Relative
humidity will rebound into the 30s and 40s by late evening,
reducing the fire threat.
Sources:
- CBS Texas, “Aerial drops underway as Ross fire near Palo Pinto grows amid high wildfire risk,” Aug. 24, 2026
- FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth, “Palo Pinto County grass fire hits 10,000 acres”
- Weatherford Democrat, “UPDATED: Palo Pinto grass fire surpasses 6,500 acres”
- NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, “Brush fire in Palo Pinto shuts down Highway 180”
The Austin City Council‘s work session today begins at 9:00 AM at Austin City Hall.
Here’s what’s on the agenda:
Two briefings anchor the session:
Data center regulations — City staff will brief council on the current status of data center uses in Austin and discuss possible future amendments to city code or regulations. Presenters include Joi Harden (Acting Assistant Director, Austin Planning), Shay Roalson (Director, Austin Water), and Stuart Reilly (General Manager, Austin Energy) — signaling this covers land use, water demand, and energy consumption tied to data center growth.
Human Rights Framework review — Dr. Lindsey Wilson (Director) and Shafina Khaki (Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion), along with the HeneKom Group, will present an impact review and report on the city’s Human Rights Framework.
Beyond the briefings, the agenda includes standard work session components: pre-selected agenda items, council items of interest, general council discussion, and a possible executive (closed) session, as permitted under the Texas Open Meetings Act, before adjournment. No specific items were listed under those sections in this agenda.
Notably, per council rules, members won’t vote on any work session item that also appears on the regular meeting agenda, and won’t discuss regular-agenda items not flagged here for work session discussion.
In other City Council news, Council Member Paige Ellis‘ petition to run for a third term was rejected by the City Clerk.
Ahead of the Austin Pride parade this past weekend, the City of Austin gave out pride-themed stickers of the Austin logo at City Hall.
That has caused some controversey.
Hutto police have arrested six men in connection with an online child exploitation investigation, officials said Monday.
Round Rock shut down suspected illegal gambling operation
The Round Rock Police Department recently shut down a suspected illegal gambling operation following a nearly 10-month investigation.
A Bexar County man is behind bars after deputies responded to a local hospital regarding a newborn child who was hospitalized with multiple injuries.
The child was found to have multiple fractures, including both new and older healing injuries.
Multiple ICE arrests were reported early Monday in the Riverside area of the city.
This arrest took place near Pleasant Valley.
(Reporte Austin)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified the father of a 5-year-old boy whose detention in Austin drew criticism from U.S. Rep. Greg Casar. Victor Martinez Nieto, the father of 5-year-old Liam Tadeo, has chosen to be deported to Mexico with his son, rather than risk the child being separated from his family by immigration officials, according to their lawyer. (KUT 90.5)
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees will hold a Board Regular Voting Meeting Thursday.
The Texas Education Agency could take over Austin ISD, stripping its school board of power. Still, fifteen candidates remain on November’s ballot. (Austin Current)
More districts across Texas are at risk of intervention by the state’s education commissioner. What that means for public schools? (Texas Tribune)
Kyle authorities responded to a deadly crash involving a motorcycle and an 18-wheeler near Exit 213 on I-35 southbound late Sunday. The 21-year-old cyclist died from his injuries.
July was another busy month for Austin’s airport.
While no agreement has been finalized, artificial intelligence behemoth Anthropic has been working with the players that matter on what’s been described as a 2,842-acre gas-fired electric generation facility to support a major data center development in Bastrop County. (Austin Business Journal)
Fortunately, there’s been a temporary repair.
With continued hot, dry conditions across Central Texas, wildfire danger remains elevated around the Lake Travis area. Travis County is currently under a Burn Ban, and all outdoor burning is prohibited.
Even a small spark can start a fast-moving wildfire. Please do your part to protect our neighborhoods, parks, and open spaces by:
Avoiding any outdoor burning�
Securing trailer chains�
Reporting smoke or fire immediately
Austin firefighters contained a small vegetation fire Monday afternoon.
Over the weekend, fire crews in Williamson County caught a fast-moving grass fire along County Road 245 just in time.
(Contained fires in BROWN, active fires in RED)
Texas A&M Forest Service is monitoring nine wildfires in the state this morning.
As detailed at the top of this post, the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto County exploded overnight from 7,000 acres to 50,000 acres.
The Rio Escondido Fire in Hamilton County is at 2500 acres and nearly one-third contained.
Seven other blazes we’re watching today:
WEATHER
MONDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A deep partial lunar eclipse will take place overnight from Thursday into Friday.
Earth’s shadow will cover 96.2% of the moon, giving it an eerie, reddish-copper “blood moon” glow.
A Texas appeals court ruled that Travis County’s public hospital district can continue its financial support of the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School, dismissing a case brought by a group of local taxpayers in 2017. (KUT 90.5)
Monthly public comment periods will no longer be guaranteed at Texas Railroad Commisssion meetings following a 2-1 vote by commissioners last week. The revised policy eliminates the standing agenda item, leaving public input subject to the discretion of individual commissioners. (Texas Public Radio)
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is criticizing President Donald Trump’s plan to increase beef imports, warning that the effort to reduce grocery prices could come at the expense of Texas cattle producers.
(Episode from August 24, 2026)
House Speaker Mike Johnson is coming to South Texas this week to campaign with Republican candidates across four congressional districts, highlighting the importance of the region in the race for control of the lower chamber. (Texas Tribune)
President Trump, who is set to headline a private fundraiser on Thursday in Houston for the Republican National Committee, will host a ceremony the following day at NASA’s Johnson Space Center for the three American astronauts who completed the historic Artemis II moon mission earlier this year. (Houston Chronicle)
New data from the state’s Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) show that Texas families are facing growing delays as they wait for the state to process their applications for Medicaid health insurance and SNAP food assistance. The data show an increase from 2,000 delayed Medicaid applications in January to 183,000 in July.
Three U.S. Postal Service carriers in Houston are facing federal charges in connection with an alleged scheme involving nearly $24 million in stolen checks, and the man prosecutors identify as the operation’s alleged ringleader is already out on bond in a separate murder case. (FOX 26 Houston)
The Texas Animal Health Commission executive director issued requirements for all cattle of Mexican origin that enter the United States through a port of entry located outside Texas on or after August 24. (TAHC)
A Bacliff man charged in connection with the decades-old “Texas Killing Fields” murders pleaded not guilty Friday to manslaughter charges tied to the 1984 death of Laura Miller.
James Elmore, 61, entered the plea during an Aug. 21 pre-trial hearing. Prosecutors accuse Elmore of secondary felony manslaughter for allegedly preparing a vial of cocaine that the case’s prime suspect, Clyde Hedrick, allegedly gave to Miller before her death. Hedrick died in March, just before he was set to face a grand jury. (Houston Public Media)
With public support for a city-funded arena in question, experts said it might be wise for the NBA franchise to come up with the cash rather than risk going before voters. (San Antonio Current)
SPORTS
MLB: The Texas Rangers are alone atop the American League West for the first time in weeks, edging the idle Houston Astros by a half-game after Monday night’s win — the latest twist in a division race where nobody seems eager to actually run away with it.
Corey Seager had three hits and three RBIs, and Jake Burger and Wyatt Langford homered to lead the Texas Rangers to an 11-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Ezequiel Duran drove in two runs and Texas (66-66) outhit the AL Central leaders 14-5 to move a half-game ahead of idle Houston and take sole possession of first place in the AL West for the first time since July 30. (Associated Press)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
The Rangers hold a half-game edge over the Astros, with a big gap opening up to Seattle in third — the West is really a two-team race at this point, and Oakland’s Athletics and the Angels are well out of it.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns face mounting questions as Arch Manning’s fall camp struggles spark fan anxiety just weeks before the clash with Ohio State.
Brad Kellner breaks down Steve Sarkisian’s honest assessment of Manning’s progress, pointing to a choppy scrimmage, concerns about offensive timing, and how last season’s early woes still haunt expectations. Can Manning build on his strong end-of-season stretch and lead Texas to a fast start, or will familiar issues resurface on the big stage?
One of Austin’s favorite sons, Matthew McConaughey, goes inside the infamous Criterion Closet and selects Italian-cinema favorites, talks about how being cast in Dazed and Confused changed his life, and shares his experience working with John Sayles on Lone Star.
