Dempsey Fire

We are really dry in our region....actually the entire state!

There are areas of the state that are drier than we are. We are in moderate drought. The city implemented Stage 1 water restrictions Monday June 27th.

We have had 100 degree days with very low humidity. All the conditions for extreme fire danger.

A grass fire started in the town of Palo Pinto which is the county seat for our county. It is 12 miles west of us. The day the fire started it was 103 with heat index of 105 humidity 24% and wind about 9mph.

I saw the smoke from the fire when I left the office. I knew that wasn't a good sign.

This is the sunset through the smoke from the horse pasture.

This was taken the night of June 23rd.

This picture was taken June 24th. What you see in the sky is not clouds but smoke.

By Saturday June 25th the fire had burned 8,000 acres and was only 12% contained. Temperature that day was 104 with 21% humidity. A heat advisory was issued the day before as the temps were forecast to increase over the weekend.

This was taken June 25th. Once again those are not clouds in the sky but smoke.

This picture was also taken on June 25th. It did make for a pretty sunset.

Many people were praying, Sunday evening June 26th a shower developed right over where the fire was and dropped rain! It didn't put it completely out but it did give firefighters the advantage! What a miracle! Click here for a short video of some lightning from the barn.

This was the post from the fire department as of July 4th

Mineral Wells Fire & EMS

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Dempsey Fire Final Update

July 4, 2022 2:30 pm

Size: 11,598 acres

Containment: 100%

Cause: Undetermined

Crews completed some final checks today on several hot spots identified previously and ensured that all areas were cool and contained. Hoses and fire equipment were collected from around the fire and are being prepared for the next fire that may need them. This fire has been handed back over to the local fire department and all state resources have been released from this fire. This will be the final update for this fire.

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the local volunteer fire departments during the fire and the recovery process. Those donations have been very appreciated. For more information on each department please check their social media pages.

Happy Independence Day!

Have a good one!