The Ross Fire burns in Palo Pinto County, Texas. (Photo: AP)
The Ross Fire began Monday afternoon and spread across more than 78 square miles (200 sq km) in less than 24 hours, moving through lightly populated areas in two counties. The family’s canoe rental operation lost its office and repair shop, while a family home built about a century ago was also destroyed.
Residents said the blaze crossed creeks and rivers as powerful winds pushed it through ranchland. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would support firefighting efforts. A fast-moving wildfire in north-central Texas has destroyed a family home and business property, burned buildings at a youth camp and forced evacuations across sparsely populated ranch country west of Fort Worth, while local ranchers opened barns for animals needing evacuation. Ranchers and a livestock commission made barns available to temporarily hold animals needing evacuation. Emergency centres were opened for residents, while some schools cancelled classes. Outside Graford, the fire hit a business that had been in Katie Rochelle’s family for generations. Some of the company’s buses and trailers were also destroyed. He also urged residents to avoid activities that could start additional fires during the spell of hot, dry and windy weather.