When Trish Wise looks back on her late father William “Bill” Davidson’s ranch near the Brazos River, she recalls weekend rifle shoots, card games, and teaching her son to drive a pickup. The home, built in 1983, was sold before Davidson’s death in 2009, but the memories remain vivid.
Ross Fire consumes family home
In early September, the Ross Fire spread across more than 90,000 acres in Palo Pinto and Jack counties, destroying roughly 157 structures. Texas A&M Forest Service data shows crews have contained about 31% of the blaze. Drone footage of the burning ranch aired on local news, leaving Wise “shocked” and “out of breath.”
Art as a way to process loss
Wise, an artist, turned her grief into an abstract watercolor the same morning she saw the footage. The painting shows dark blue‑gray skies above a white house engulfed in bright flames. “My brush felt sad and angry,” she said, noting the work helped her navigate the loss.
Community prayers and gratitude
Beyond her own sorrow, Wise expressed concern for neighbors still battling the fire. “I think of the people God loves, cutting fences for animals, the bravery of those men still fighting,” she said, adding prayers for the firefighters and families whose livelihoods depend on the land.
Local response
Fire crews continue to work the perimeter, and volunteers across the counties have mobilized to support evacuees. The Ross Fire remains a stark reminder of the region’s vulnerability to wildfires, prompting calls for better forest‑management practices and community preparedness.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
