Dempsey Fire burns thousands of acres west of Mineral Wells, Texas


10:35pm CST on June 24, 2022

Dempsey Fire, West Mineral Springs, Texas
Dempsey Fire, West Mineral Springs, Texas, June 24, 2022. Photo via Texas Forest Service.

The Dempsey Fire 6 miles west of Mineral Wells, Texas was very active on Friday afternoon, rising to nearly 6,500 acres as the temperature soared to 106 degrees. The Texas Forest Service reported that it ran to the north and northwest, jumping on the Brazos River and FM Road.

Dempsey Fire Texas Location Map
Map of the location of the Dempsey Fire, 6 miles west of Mineral Wells, Texas.

Engines were used to protect the hull as bulldozers create a line along the sides of the fire. Airplanes help firefighters by cooling the head and wings, slowing the rate of deployment and buying time for firefighters. Evacuations are in effect south of Grassy Ridge Road.

map of Dempsey fire
Dempsey fire map, ocean estimated at 2:22 p.m. CST on June 23, 2022. Texas Forest Service.

After 2 p.m. on Friday, the winds at Mineral Wells Airport were from the south and southeast at 10 to 18 mph at 20 to 30 while the relative humidity was 17 percent. Friday night’s weather forecast calls for 7 to 12 mph winds from the south and southeast with humidity rising to 50 percent at dawn. Saturday will be winds from the south at 10 to 15 mph with 18 percent relative humidity and a high temperature of 105. These weather conditions will cause the fire to continue spreading to the north and northwest.

Dempsey Fire, West Mineral Springs, Texas
Dempsey Fire, West Mineral Springs, Texas, June 24, 2022. Photo via Texas Forest Service.

author: Bill Jabert

After working full-time in prairie fires for 33 years, he continues to learn, striving to be a student of fire. Looking at all of Bill Gabert’s posts



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