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

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

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 Ross Fire, burning across Palo Pinto and Jack counties west of Fort Worth, is only 5 percent contained as of early Tuesday.

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

Texas firefighters are making history. Ground crews battling the Ross Fire began using ground-based retardant Monday along Highway 16 as part of suppression efforts. Texas A&M Forest Service

Gov. Abbott thanked crews in Palo Pinto County as the 90,000-acre blaze remained only 38% contained Thursday.

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.