Brad , Texas ( CNN ) -- Firefighters have made some progress in battling a spreading wildfire in northern Texas , but dry conditions contributed to a rash of new fires as well , officials said Thursday . The 101 Ranch Fire in Palo Pinto County had scorched 6,200 acres as of Thursday , according to the Texas Forest Service . The blaze is burning on Possum Kingdom Lake , near the town of Brad , about 100 miles west of Dallas . However , `` we feel much better about this fire today '' as the blaze is now 50 % contained , said John Nichols , spokesman for the forest service . Some evacuations were lifted , he said . The flames have destroyed 40 homes and nine RVs , the Forest Service said Thursday . Firefighters were receiving support from aerial tankers and helicopters . Authorities are working on a re-entry strategy for residents , said Palo Pinto County Sheriff Ira Mercer , and they are trying to get the lake open for the Labor Day holiday . On Wednesday , evacuations were ordered in several communities on the north side of the lake after the fire charged over a ridge and approached a dam on the lake , CNN affiliate WFAA reported . The Forest Service pulled out of its command observation post , telling journalists and onlookers to get out of the way of the flames . Tom Hardeston was among the residents watching helplessly . `` My house is right through here , though it may be gone , '' he told WFAA . Nearby ranchers battled to save their herds from the encroaching fire . `` I 'm just moving them from pasture to pasture , '' Cindi McCoy told WFAA , referring to her livestock . `` As one pasture burns , I 'm moving them back to that one and bring ( ing ) them back around . '' The Forest Service responded on Wednesday to 17 new fires burning a total of 4,146 acres . The largest of those is the Hornets Tank Fire , which had burned 3,000 acres and was 40 % contained Thursday . It was burning in Briscoe County near Palo Duro Canyon , the nation 's second-largest canyon behind the Grand Canyon . In addition , the Legacy Fire had burned 3,400 acres in Howard County and was 10 % contained Thursday , the Forest Service said . The blaze threatens numerous structures , but did not show much growth on Wednesday . The weather forecast continued to predict mostly dry weather for the area , with high temperatures from the mid-90s into the 100s , the Forest Service said . Texas is experiencing the worst fire season in state history . Since fire season began last November , a record 3.5 million acres have burned . Hot and dry weather combined with a historic drought have made conditions ripe for rapid fire growth . In the past seven days , the Forest Service has responded to 224 fires burning a combined 31,541 acres . Meanwhile , in neighboring Oklahoma , firefighters were battling hot spots Thursday from a wildfire in northeast Oklahoma City , Fire Chief Keith Bryant said . National Guard helicopters were assisting , Bryant said . The blaze was one of two large brush fires that had covered more than 16 square miles on the city 's north and south sides Wednesday , forcing some evacuations and closure of Interstate 40 and the Turner Turnpike . Both roads were later reopened , CNN affiliate KOCO said . Thursday is `` day three of very poor fire conditions for us , '' said David Barnes , Oklahoma County Emergency Manager . Firefighters , including some from around the state , are `` kind of ragged , '' he said . Barnes did not have an estimate on how many homes were lost on the city 's north side . On Tuesday , a dozen were lost in that blaze . Fighting the south side fire `` went very well for us , '' he said . Three or four barns were lost , he said , along with one mobile home and one abandoned home . The record-setting heat and drought plaguing Texas and Oklahoma -- as well as a heat wave experienced by other states -- result from abnormally strong high pressure over the Atlantic and Pacific . The high pressure keeps the jet stream , typically a source of cooler air and precipitation , to the north , while winds funnel hot , tropical air into the south-central United States , according to NASA , which released satellite data Wednesday showing the phenomenon during July . But the conditions persist , said CNN meteorologist Sean Morris . `` The ridge of high pressure aloft refuses to release its grip . There are some subtle signs that it may weaken into next week and allow a tropical system to move into '' southeastern Texas , he said . `` This would have the potential to bring some very significant and beneficial rains to that area . But it looks like Oklahoma is going to remain high and dry . ''
The 101 Ranch Fire is 50 % contained . Some evacuations have been lifted , an official says . The Texas Forest Service battled 17 new fires on Wednesday . Firefighters still battling hot spots in Oklahoma City .