After 11 days, the Ross Fire has burned more than 90,000 acres across North Texas. Investigators say a blown tire sparked the blaze.

The Panhandle fires showed what can happen when the most volatile ingredients converge. The Ross Fire is showing how readily those conditions can resurge - and how hard they can be to combat.

The fire began near Ross in Palo Pinto County and was initially estimated at 25 acres, according to the Palo Pinto County Emergency Service District. It rapidly expanded to thousands of acres and crews from across the state have joined in fighting the fire .

The blaze burning west of the Dallas-Fort Worth area has ballooned to 80,000 acres and is just 12 percent contained.

The Ross fire in North Texas' Palo Pinto County severely damaged the Rio Roca Chapel, a little-known jewel of Texas architecture.

Despite not being the largest, deadliest nor most destructive fire in Texas' history, Ross has been extreme in other ways.

The fire, now 38% contained, stemmed from equipment or vehicle use with a roadside start, state and local agencies say.