Texas Wildfire Has Doubled in Size Twice in Two Days
Extreme heat is adding more fuel to the Ross Fire, a massive blaze burning west of Fort Worth, Texas. Here is the latest on this fire that continues to spread at a fast clip.
Ross Fire Forces More Evacuations
The Ross Fire has now scorched over 80,000 acres as it burns across Palo Pinto and Jack counties in North Texas. As of Wednesday, the blaze was just 12% contained.
The fast-moving inferno doubled in size in just a few hours after it started on Monday, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Hundreds of fire personnel on the ground and in aircraft have been working to try to get a handle on the fire that has forced the evacuation of residents in both Jack and Palo Pinto counties.
The town of Graford in Palo Pinto County has been put on alert as the flames inch closer. Local officials have issued an evacuation advisory for areas north of Fortune Bend Road toward Highway 16 and FM 337, Turpin Road, and Highway 337. The communities east of Perrin near FM 4, FM 2210, Rock Creek Road, and Hassel Ranch Road have also been put on notice to be prepared to leave.
Displaced residents can seek shelter at the Twin Lakes Recreation Center, located at 1114 Texas Highway 59 in Jacksboro.
The fire forced Graford ISD to cancel classes on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Perrin-Whitt CISD was working on a two-hour delayed start. Part of the issue is that several roads have been closed due to the fire, including portions of FM 4 and highways 254 and 337.
Fire crews are targeting the western flank of the fire for containment. This includes the part of the fire closest to the Possum Kingdom area, in addition to the southern fringe of the blaze closest to Palo Pinto.
Hot and Dry Weather to Persist
The weather forecast is not offering much hope to firefighters. The record-breaking heat is forecast to persist through the end of the week across this part of the southern Plains.
How hot has it been? Dallas-Fort Worth hit a high of 109 degrees on Monday, breaking the record for that date in history by two degrees. Likewise, the overnight low of 86 degrees tied the metroplex's all-time warmest minimum temperature reading.
The forecast is calling for Graford to sit in the low 100s for highs through the first week of September. Overnight lows will bottom out in the mid 70s during this stretch. Exacerbating the fire weather is the expectation of no rain in the 14-day forecast. The only bit of promising news is that winds are forecast to remain light over the next few days. Firefighters could also really use higher humidity levels as they try to contain the fire.
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