Greg Abbott said FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant as fires in Texas kept spreading, with the Ross Fire growing to more than 50,000 acres in Palo Pinto County and prompting evacuations in nearby areas. The state also tied the request to Jack County as crews worked under dry, windy and extreme heat conditions.
The latest update from the Texas A&M Forest Service put the Ross Fire at 8% contained. FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth later reported the fire was covering 50,000 acres and only 5% contained, a gap that reflects how fast wildfire updates can change as crews keep lines moving and new acreage gets added.
Greg Abbott and FEMA
Abbott said in a statement after the approval, “Texas will provide all necessary resources to protect Texans from the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto and Jack Counties.” He also said, “I thank the Trump Administration for the swift approval of this grant, which will help Texas suppress this wildfire and protect lives and property.”
He added, “Texans must limit any activity that can cause a spark and heed the guidance of state and local officials to prevent additional wildfires and keep themselves and their loved ones safe.” The grant gives Texas another federal tool for firefighting costs tied to the Ross Fire, which has already crossed county lines in the public reporting.
Katie Dean in Palo Pinto County
Katie Dean said she evacuated with around 60 goats and other animals. “I was panicking, but trying to keep it together for her so I didn't scare the animals and whatnot,” she said. “We did not have a great fire evacuation plan going.”
Her experience shows the practical problem facing residents in Palo Pinto County: getting livestock and pets out quickly before roads, smoke, or changing fire behavior slow escape. For families in the area, the immediate task is the same one Dean faced — move animals, gather essentials, and leave when evacuation guidance is issued.
FM 4 and nearby counties
Firefighters used planes to drop water and retardant after dipping into nearby reservoirs, while crews and fire trucks carried out defensive operations on ranch land along FM 4 a few miles north of Palo Pinto. The fire was burning grass, brush, trees, and at least one structure, and FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth reported that several structures were burned and evacuations were forced in nearby Jack County.
Smaller wildfires were also burning in Wise, Parker and Hamilton counties. The exact causes of the fires remained under investigation, and the hardest immediate question for residents is how much damage the Ross Fire has already done; the public reports have not settled how many structures were destroyed or damaged.
Worth Ranch damage
The Longhorn Council said Worth Ranch sustained catastrophic damage, but no scouts, campers or guests were on the property at the time. All camp personnel were safely evacuated from Worth Ranch.
For people living near the fire, the next useful measure is not the acreage figure alone but whether containment keeps rising faster than the burned area. Until that changes, residents in Palo Pinto County and Jack County are still dealing with a fire that is large, active, and moving in weather that favors spread.
