Evacuations were being ordered Tuesday in rural Texas where a wildfire has ballooned in size, burning through ranchland and forcing schools to delay or cancel classes.

The fire that began early Monday afternoon has ripped through more than 78 square miles (200 square kilometers) across lightly populated areas in two counties in north central Texas.

Perfect fire conditions allowed the fire to shoot up in a matter of hours, said officials with Palo Pinto County's emergency services district.