The Ross Fire in Palo Pinto and Jack counties in North Texas had been burning for 14 days since it began on August 24. According to the National Interagency Fire Center’s (NIFC) September 5 situation report, it had burned 90,400 acres and was 38% contained. The Texas A&M Forest Service counted 157 destroyed structures, including 25 homes. The National Weather Service (NWS) classified it as North Texas’ second-largest wildfire on record, behind the 2011 Possum Kingdom Complex Fire.
Areas Affected
The fire began in an 80-acre area along U.S. Highway 180 in Palo Pinto County, grew to 15,000 acres on its first day, and crossed north into Jack County on the wind. All evacuation orders issued in Jack County had been lifted, though fire officials urged returning residents to remain cautious. After working the fire’s southern area, crews were shifting work toward the western and northern boundaries in the direction of Lake Possum Kingdom. Protecting neighborhoods around the lake and along Texas Highway 16 was central to the western fire line. The NIFC report noted that numerous homes remained threatened as of September 5.
The Boy Scouts’ Worth Ranch camp on the Brazos River, about 60 miles west of Fort Worth, sustained extensive damage. The camp asked people to stay away because hot spots remained. The Forest Service said it could take weeks for fuels such as burned trees to be fully extinguished, and Jack County officials likewise expected full containment to take weeks. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, meanwhile, remained open. The park advised visitors with respiratory sensitivities to check conditions before leaving, as smoke could cause air quality to change frequently.
The area’s record fire conditions followed the combined effects of drought and extreme heat. North Texas had gone 46 days without measurable rain, its 10th-longest dry stretch on record, and August was among the driest months ever recorded. NIFC Predictive Services expected fire danger to remain “moderate” across the Southern Plains and Mississippi Valley, with highs near 100°F, relative humidity of 25% to 30%, and localized strong winds. The National Weather Service forecast dangerous heat across the Southern Plains through at least the middle of the following week.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
Lake Possum Kingdom is a frequent weekend destination for RV campers from the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Travelers with reservations at campgrounds around the lake or at private RV parks should contact the property directly before departure to confirm operations. The status of Possum Kingdom State Park could not be verified through official information during this reporting, so checking Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) notices or calling the park directly was the safer option.
Tarrant, Palo Pinto, and Jack counties had been under burn bans since the previous month. Campfires, charcoal grills, and equipment that can throw sparks were restricted. Before leaving, drivers towing trailers should recheck their connections to ensure chains cannot drag on the pavement and create sparks. Parking a vehicle with a hot exhaust system over dry grass can also start a fire.
On days when smoke reached Fort Worth, travelers using routes near the fire were advised to check both county emergency management offices and Texas A&M Forest Service fire maps. Road closures changed frequently in Jack and Palo Pinto counties, so real-time Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) road information was also important. Statewide, 12 wildfires, including this one, were active, and more than 30% of Texas was in dry conditions. The warning applied to all RV travelers heading to West, Central, or East Texas that weekend.
Photo: Michael Barera / Original photo. CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo date: 26 June 2021. Resized and compressed for display.
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