Fire retardant rains down on massive Ross Fire in North Texas
Firefighters battle the massive Ross Fire as aircraft drop bright red retardant over flames spreading across North Texas.
Mesquite Fire Department & Office of Emergency Management via Storyful
- The Ross Fire in North Texas has burned over 90,000 acres, becoming the second-largest wildfire in the region.
- Investigators determined the fire was started by a blown tire from a vehicle on Texas Highway 180.
- As of the latest report, the blaze has destroyed 157 structures and is 38% contained.
- A blown tire can cause a fire when metal scrapes the pavement creating sparks or when hot debris lands on dry grass.
The Ross Fire has grown into a 90,000-acre monster in North Texas – and investigators now know how it started.
The wildfire, which ignited 11 days ago, on Aug. 24, near Ross in Palo Pinto County, has burned at least 90,048 acres across Palo Pinto and Jack counties, making it the second-largest wildfire in North Texas, according to the National Weather Service.
After days of firefighting efforts, the Texas A&M Forest Service has determined the Ross Fire was human-caused.
Public information officer Laura Stevens said in a statement to USA TODAY that the agency’s law enforcement division worked with local law enforcement agencies to investigate the fire.
“The fire originated from equipment/vehicle use associated with a roadside start,” the statement said.
CBS News Texas initially reported the fire was sparked by a blown tire on a vehicle traveling along Texas Highway 180.
Adam Turner with the Texas A&M Forest Service told CBS News Texas that investigators examined evidence, including pieces of rubber and tire marks on the asphalt, to determine the cause.
The fire initially was estimated at just 25 acres when it was reported Aug. 24. It exploded across the landscape as hot, dry and windy conditions fueled its growth, eventually becoming one of the largest wildfires in Texas history.
The blaze was 38% contained as of Sept. 2, the latest available data. It has destroyed at least 157 structures and damaged another 140, while firefighters have saved 453 structures.
Crews from across Texas have joined the effort to contain the fire, which has been burning for nearly two weeks.
How can a blown tire start a wildfire?
A blown tire can create several potential ignition sources. The failure can expose metal from the wheel or other vehicle components, which can scrape against pavement and create sparks or intense heat. Hot rubber, tire debris, or other parts can also land on dry vegetation and ignite it.
When grass and brush along a roadway are extremely dry, even a small ignition can quickly spread. Strong winds can then push flames through the surrounding vegetation, turning a roadside fire into a much larger blaze.
Texas wildfire smoke map tracker
Where is the Ross Fire?
The Ross Fire sparked just west of Palo Pinto, a small unincorporated town about 80 miles west of Fort Worth.
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Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here.