Texas investigators have classified the Ross Fire as human-caused and tied its roadside origin to equipment or vehicle use following a tire blowout. However, officials now say they cannot conclusively determine what ignited the 90,400-acre blaze in North Texas.
“While investigators could not conclusively identify the specific ignition source, the fire originated from equipment or vehicle use associated with a roadside start,” the Texas A&M Forest Service said Thursday, clarifying its earlier account.
Agency narrows earlier explanation
The agency’s public information office gave FOX 4 a more specific explanation Wednesday: “The cause of the fire was human-caused. The fire originated from equipment use associated with a tire blowout,” the outlet reported.
A Forest Service official initially said Wednesday that the blown tire itself sparked the fire, prompting the clarification, CBS Texas reported Thursday. The agency’s latest wording leaves the precise ignition mechanism unresolved.
The agency has not publicly identified the driver or vehicle involved or announced any potential criminal charges.
Investigators still had not determined the cause Monday, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Fire exceeds 90,000 acres
The Ross Fire began August 24 along U.S. Highway 180 near Ross Watson Road in Palo Pinto County before spreading into Jack County. The Forest Service listed the fire at 90,400 acres and 38% containment Thursday.
A state damage assessment counted 157 structures destroyed, 140 damaged and 453 saved. The blaze ranks as the second-largest wildfire recorded in North Texas, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Nine out of 10 Texas wildfires are human-caused, and equipment use ranks as the second-most common cause behind debris burning, the Forest Service said Wednesday. The agency urged Texans to avoid activities that could produce sparks while critically dry fuels persist across much of North Texas.
Provided by Dallas Express
