A wind-whipped grass fire known as the Ross Fire ignited on Monday, August 24, 2026, near Fort Worth, Texas, and rapidly expanded overnight to 50,000 acres, leading to mandatory evacuations, officials reported.

The fire began around 1:30 p.m. local time near the town of Palo Pinto, approximately 60 miles west of Fort Worth. It grew to 18,000 acres within 12 hours, according to the Palo Pinto Emergency Services Department. By Tuesday morning, containment was only at 5% as the fire spread north into neighboring Jack County, where additional evacuation advisories have been issued.

The Ross Fire has also caused the closure of a highway and is part of a series of wildfires affecting the western and northwestern United States. The Texas A&M Forest Service stated, "Firefighters are prioritizing life safety and structure protection, while working to establish containment lines where conditions safely allow." Residents, especially those needing extra time or assistance, are strongly encouraged to evacuate immediately.

Meanwhile, in Northern Nevada near Reno, firefighters are gaining ground on the Hawk Fire, a massive brush fire that started over the weekend. The blaze has destroyed or damaged more than 50 homes and prompted the evacuation of 42,000 people. Containment lines around the Hawk Fire increased from zero to 27% on Monday, and crews appear to have prevented the fire from reaching the community of Somersett in northwest Reno.

These fires come amid a severe wildfire season in the West, with Washington state experiencing its third-worst fire season since 2015 in terms of acres burned.

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