What to know about the Ross FireThe Ross Fire is believed to have consumed more than 90,400 acres and is 38% contained.The fire was first reported at about 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 24, and within an hour, it grew to five alarms.Investigators have determined the fire is believed to be human-caused, origina ting from equipment or vehicle use.The state is helping fight the Ross Fire by dropping water and fire retardant from the air.Though the fire is largely burning through ranchland in Palo Pinto and Jack counties, structures have been destroyed in the Ross Fire; an exact accounting of the damage is not yet available.No injuries have been reported in connection with the Ross Fire. Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that more than 1,000 firefighters and other state personnel have been deployed in response to the Ross Fire, as he surveyed damage from the massive wildfire in Palo Pinto and Jack counties. As of Thursday morning, the Ross Fire is estimated to have burned 90,400 acres and is 38% contained, according to the Texas AM Forest Service. TEXAS WILDFIRE MAPS Abbott said no deaths or injuries have been reported, crediting early warnings and evacuations as well as coordination among local and state agencies. The governor said the state had prepositioned firefighters and equipment in the region before the fire began because weather conditions indicated an increased wildfire threat. Palo Pinto County Judge Shane Long said local firefighters reached the fire within its first five minutes, with additional local and state resources arriving soon afterward. Long, a lifelong county resident who has dealt with previous major wildfires, said the speed of the Ross Fire presented a particularly difficult challenge.State Sen. Phil King also offered a glimpse at the damage left behind, saying a friend lost his home, hay and all 1,400 acres of his property to the fire, though his cattle survived. Abbott said a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant has been approved to assist Palo Pinto and Jack counties and pledged continued state support as communities begin recovering. “Because you are alive today, we’re going to find ways to help you rebuild what you lost,” Abbott told residents affected by the fire. Officials continued to urge residents to follow local warnings while firefighting operations remain underway. State investigators have determined the Ross Fire was human-caused and originated from equipment or vehicle use associated with a roadside start, according to the Texas AM Forest Service. Investigators with Texas AM Forest Service initially determined the fire originated from equipment use associated with a tire blowout, later updating that finding after reviewing additional information. Texas AM Forest Service Law Enforcement investigated in coordination with local law enforcement agencies. Officials have also emphasized that the classification of the fire as “human-caused” does not mean it was intentionally set. The fire has burned more than 150 structures, 18 of which the Forest Service says are homes. See how big the Ross Fire would be over DFW, Waco or Austin The National Weather Service in Fort Worth said that the Ross Fire is the second-largest wildfire in our area’s history, behind the PK Complex Fire, which burned roughly 127,000 acres in 2011. To see the scale of the Ross Fire, click on a location on the map below to center the shape of the fire over any area. var pymParent = new pym.Parent('fire', 'https://visuals.otsops.com/projects/fire-compare/ross.html', {title: '', parenturlparam: '', parenturlvalue: ''}); Graphic: NBC StaffSource: National Interagency Fire Center Ross Fire Palo Pinto County Sep 1 Operation Texas Strong steps up for veterans impacted by Ross Fire Palo Pinto County Aug 25 Ross Fire consumes 85,303 acres and is 31% contained; aerial attack continues Monday Fort Worth Aug 28 Fort Worth police collect supplies for volunteer firefighters battling wildfires ...read more read less