Strong Local Leadership in Action – Ross Fire Update

September 1, 2026

I want to commend our local and state jurisdictions for their response to the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto and Jack Counties. The tireless efforts of everyone on the front lines, working around the clock to fight the fire and protect our communities, are truly remarkable.

I had the rare opportunity over the weekend to witness firsthand the incredible level of coordination and dedication involved in the response. While we never want to see an incident like this occur in our community, it is reassuring to know that we are in very capable hands. 

We should all be incredibly proud of the men and women responding to this fire and grateful for their courage, professionalism and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe. 

As of today, the fire is 31% contained, with approximately 90,048 acres burned. Five hundred structures are threatened and 157 structures have been destroyed.  State and local fire crews continue to battle hotspots and the flanks of the fire, and are working to strengthen containment lines. It is still a very active scene with several hundred crews on duty from many different state and local agencies. Aircraft operations are particularly active with 23 total aircraft deployed that have dropped over 415,089 gallons of retardant and 1,805,135 gallons of water. 

Please continue to keep those impacted by the Ross Fire, along with the first responders and their families, in your prayers as we work through the days ahead.  


CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO


CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO



Grateful for the steady leadership of Palo Pinto County Judge Shane Long. He has been at the Incident Command Post every day, empowering the experts around him while making quick, decisive calls needed to keep the response moving forward. 


Receiving an incident briefing from Texas A&M Forest Service staff.


Proud to shake the hand of Fire Chief Danny Watkins, who is truly leading from the front. He’s been putting in long days in the heat, shoulder-to-shoulder with his team, directing local resources while his firefighters battle on the front lines. This is what leadership and service look like in Texas.  

Resources for Palo Pinto County residents:

Palo Pinto County residents should continue to follow all emergency information and instructions provided by the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office and Palo Pinto County Emergency Service District 1. Please use the links below to follow their Facebook pages and stay up to date on the latest information, including any new emergency alerts or updates on evacuation orders:

Please visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s August Wildfires website for the latest information on statewide response and recovery efforts.

For the latest tracking information on the Ross Fire, including updates on the fire’s status, please visit the Ross Fire page.

Reporting Damages

For those who have been impacted by the Ross Fire, please visit the Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) to report damages to property and agricultural losses.

Emergency Shelters

For all residents who have been evacuated, I encourage you to call the State 2-1-1 emergency number for the most current information on available emergency shelters.

Donations

The United Way of Palo Pinto County has established a Ross Fire Donation Relief page to support families facing immediate and long-term needs following the fire.

Water and financial donations are also still being accepted at Clearfork Bank, located at 1031 E. Hubbard Street, Mineral Wells, TX 76067.

Relief

The State of Texas Agriculture Relief Fund (STAR) has been activated for Ross Fire relief. STAR funds may be used to assist farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners in rebuilding fences, restoring operations and paying for other agricultural disaster relief.

The STAR Fund was created solely with monetary donations from private individuals and entities to fund disaster recovery efforts.  If you’d like to help folks impacted by the wildfire, floods or tornadoes, consider making a donation to the STAR Fund. Donations can be made here.

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association has a step-by-step home insurance claim recovery guide. You can contact them through their website.