A wildland crew from Highland-based Lone Peak Fire District is on the ground fighting the Ross Fire in Texas, a blaze that exploded from 25 acres to an estimated 50,000 acres in about 31 hours and forced roughly 630 households to evacuate.

The crew arrived in the Mineral Wells, Texas, area on Aug. 19 after being specifically requested by Texas Forest Service partners, according to ABC4. They have worked on three fires since arriving. Their current assignment is the Ross Fire, located in Palo Pinto County about 60 miles west of Fort Worth.

The fire started at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, near the town of Palo Pinto along U.S. Highway 180. It grew from about 25 acres to more than 18,000 acres in 12 hours, then reached an estimated 50,000 acres by Tuesday evening, Aug. 25, according to the Fort Worth Report and WFAA.

Lone Peak Fire District described the fire as showing extreme behavior and rapid growth, burning through pinyon junipers and mesquite trees with light, flashy fuels including grasses and brush.

"The fuel load and the weather conditions, it's kind of been the perfect storm where we just haven't been able to contain it," Danny Watkins, chief of the Palo Pinto County Emergency Services District, said in a video posted to Facebook on Tuesday, Aug. 25. "We're doing everything we can; we're throwing everything at this and still having minimal effect."

More than 100 firefighters were on scene as of Tuesday morning, including out-of-state crews. The Texas A&M Forest Service holds unified command with local departments, and heavy equipment and aviation resources are assisting suppression efforts.

The fire jumped from Palo Pinto County north into Jack County overnight, triggering mandatory evacuations for about 630 homes. At least five structures were destroyed in Palo Pinto County, according to county officials. Containment stood at 5% Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, before rising to 12% by that evening, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

Conditions have been punishing. The National Weather Service recorded temperatures as high as 109 degrees on Tuesday, with afternoon humidity dropping to 15–25% and south winds of 10–15 mph. North Texas has experienced triple-digit heat and dry, breezy weather for the past month, with burn bans in effect for both counties.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Ross Fire, making Texas eligible for 75% federal reimbursement of suppression costs. Abbott also activated additional state resources including Texas National Guard helicopters, air tankers and Department of Public Safety troopers.

The cause of the fire remains undetermined, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association. An elevated fire threat was forecast to continue across western North and Central Texas into Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Lone Peak Fire District's crew remains deployed with no announced return date.