A rapidly spreading wildfire in Texas has scorched 50,000 acres and led to evacuations, officials reported Tuesday. The Ross Fire, which ignited Monday near Fort Worth, was only 5% contained as it moved north into Jack County, prompting additional evacuation advisories.
Firefighters are focusing on ensuring life safety and protecting structures while attempting to establish containment lines where conditions permit, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The fire began around 1:30 p.m. local time Monday near Palo Pinto, approximately 60 miles west of Fort Worth, and grew to 18,000 acres within 12 hours, according to the Palo Pinto Emergency Services Department. The Palo Pinto County Sheriff urged residents to evacuate immediately, particularly those requiring additional time or assistance. The cause of the Ross Fire is currently under investigation.
Meanwhile, firefighters in Nevada are making progress against the Hawk Fire near Reno, which ignited over the weekend. This blaze has consumed more than 15,000 acres, destroyed at least 47 homes and damaged eight others, with seven people injured, including three first responders. Evacuation orders have been lifted in some areas, reducing the number of people displaced to 23,000 from 42,000. The Hawk Fire is suspected to be human-caused, though the exact circumstances are still being determined.
In Washington state, 15 large uncontained wildfires have burned 800,000 acres. The largest are the Little Giant Fire in Chelan County, with over 142,000 acres consumed, and the Sinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County, which has burned more than 155,000 acres. The Sinlahekin Fire, started by lightning on July 26, was 55% contained on Tuesday, while the Little Giant Fire, sparked by lightning on July 15, was 15% contained. These fires are in remote areas and are not threatening homes. A spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources described the current season as the third-worst for acres burned since 2015, noting multiple fires exceeding 100,000 acres. Earlier this month, a series of fires in Spokane caused an estimated $1 billion in damage and destroyed over 800 homes, leading to an arrest for the Old Trails Fire.