July 13, 2022
4:00PM 

Size: 320 acres
Containment: 90%
Date Started: July 12, 2022

State resources from Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) have been out and working at the fire. The Aviation support received yesterday was very beneficial in controlling the fire.

Today TAMFS dozers have been working in improving control lines around the perimeter of the fire. Hand Crew hiked into the areas that engines, and dozers were unable to gain access due to rough terrain. They looked for hot spots and put them out with hand tools. TIFMAS Strike Team of engines have been patrolling the control lines and cooling off any areas that shown to be holding any heat.

Some smokes inside the containment were identified and cooled off by crews.  Mapping was conducted and it resulted in a decrease of originally estimated acreage to 320 acres. Overall, the fire has shown minimal activity thus increasing containment to 90%.

 Cemetery Fire Final Update

Size: 13 acres
Containment: 100
Cause: Under investigation
Start Date: July 12, 2022 

Crews from Mineral Wells fire department and Texas A&M Forest Service spent the day out working around the fire perimeter. Throughout the day they identified and mitigated any heat sources they found as they patrolled around. After spending the day finding little heats remaining the containment has been increased to 100%.
 
Residents may still see some occasional smokes as some items may continue to burn deep inside the perimeter of the fire. This is normal and as long as it remains interior of the burn, should not cause any concern.  
 
For any further information please look to the Mineral Wells Fire Department Facebook Page or contact the Mineral Wells Fire Department. 

Cemetery Fire July 13, 2022 10:00 AM Update

Size: 13 acres
Containment: 80
Cause: Under investigation
Start Date: July 12, 2022 

Last night resources from Mineral Wells patrolled the cemetery fire until midnight. They identified and put out several hot spots and worked to mitigate any heats around the perimeter of the fire. Much of this heat was along the northern edge of the fire near structures, but no structures were being threatened.

This morning resources from both Mineral Wells fire department and Texas A&M Forest Service are back on scene working to mop-up, put out any smoking or hot areas around the edge of the fire, much of the fire. With how close this fire is to many structures crews are working to ensure that nothing inside this fire will create a threat to the southern section of town. Weather today is going to continue to be extremely hot and dry with some moderate winds. This weather is similar to the situation yesterday when multiple fire starts occurred. Crews will keep this in mind today as they work, ensuring that this fire is safe while preparing for potential new fire starts this afternoon.

While aerial resources may not be currently present on scene, they may be ordered as needed to assist the fire. Members of the public that fly drones over fire scenes put these aerial resources at danger. Please keep in mind that when you fly, we can't.   

Cemetery Fire July 12, 2022 9:30 PM Update

Size: 13 acres
Containment: 80
Cause: Under investigation
Start Date: July 12, 2022 

Dozer crews have completed lines all the way around the Cemetery fire and have been released from this fire to respond to the Texas Forts fire in Palo Pinto County. Resources from the local fire departments will be on scene through midnight tonight and then crews from both the Mineral Wells Fire Department and Texas A&M Forest Service will return in the morning to patrol and monitor for hot spots. 
 
Weather is expected to remain hot and dry through the week so any areas that have heat in them will continue to burn and produce and smoke in the afternoons. Some smokes will continue to show but if they are well inside the perimeter of the fire, they may not pose a threat.  
 
Palo Pinto county is in an extended drought and all fire resources appreciate the public's efforts to limit fire starts and their cooperation with the burn ban.

Name: Cemetery Fire

Size: 10 acres
Containment: 30
Cause: Under investigation

The Cemetery fire is burning within Mineral Wells city limits to the southwest of town. Resources from across Palo Pinto and Parker counties quickly responded to the incident and began protecting structures to the north of this fire. Aerial resources were ordered to lower fire activity along the head and northern flank of the fire so that ground resources could better work the fire. At this time forward progress of the fire has been stopped and crews are working to mop up heavy brush that is still burning in the perimeter of the fire. Dozers are making their way around the perimeter of the fire to create a break free of fuels between the fire and the structures around it. 

Aerial resources have been released at this time but residents can expect to continue seeing fire resources around the Southwest corner of Mineral Wells. Temperatures are high and expected to remain there so firefighters are taking all necessary steps to ensure they and the public stay safe and healthy.  

 Yesterday, crews achieved 92 percent containment as firefighters made significant progress on the Jacob City Fire. Suppression repair continued, using specialized equipment. This effort includes ensuring dozer lines and other areas impacted while actively fighting the fire are repaired and seeded. Helicopters shuttled some crews that were camped out on the fireline down to the valley for demobilization. Aviation resources also continued backhaul of equipment and resources.
 
 Fire behavior remained limited to smoldering and creeping, as it has over the last few days. Heavy fuels continue to consume on north slopes of the Soldier Creek drainage and Sharp Mountain.Today, crews will continue looking for hot spots and working to improve containment.

A drawdown of resources remains underway as that containment rapidly increases.
 In the next day, hot, dry, and windy conditions are expected throughout the fire area, but monsoonal moisture could bring light to heavy precipitation in the late afternoon.

 Jacob City Fire Daily Update July 17, 2022

*Community meeting in Stockton, Utah at 6:30 pm on Monday, July 18 at the Pavilion at Stockton Park.
 
 Yesterday, crews achieved 82 percent containment of the fire. Working in steep, rugged country, firefighters made significant progress constructing fireline south of Soldier Creek and continued to address a line of burning trees near Bald Mountain. Other crews moved into suppression repair using specialized equipment, while a wildland fire module patrolled and looked for heat in heavy timber on very steep slopes on the north side of Sharp Mountain. Fire behavior has been limited to smoldering and creeping the last few days. 

Today, helicopters will shuttle some crews that have been camped out on the fireline down to the valley for demobilization.  A drawdown of resources is underway as containment of the fire rapidly increases. Aviation resources will also continue backhaul of equipment and resources.   As monsoonal moisture begins to move into southern Utah, the chance for significant rain on the fire may begin to diminish. However, the warm dry weather in the area tomorrow is expected to give way to potential thunderstorms in the late afternoon to early evening. The chance of wetting rains continues to drop after today.

 A community meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 18, 2022 at 6:30 PM at the Pavilion at Stockton Park, 382 S. Rogers Street, Stockton, Utah 

Monsoonal moisture moderated fire behavior and allowed firefighting crews to make extensive progress in completing line and increasing containment of the fire. Crews also mopped up hot spots along the northern flank of thefire near Edwards Pass and secured a section of line south toward the Soldier Creek drainage bottom.

Today, a hotshot crew will work an area of dense snags in the vicinity of Bald Mountain and Commodore Pass. A wildland fire module will patrol and secure a particularly rugged piece of ground on the north side of Sharp Mountain, while line construction continues near Commodore Pass. Several crews that have been spiking out on the fireline for many days will begin to be shuttled down to base camp and released. A drawdown of resources will be underway as containment of the fire increases. Aviation resources will continue backhaul of equipment and resources.

Local agency resource advisors are planning for suppression repair and have ordered specialized equipment for this work.

A high-pressure system is in place. Over the weekend, weather will be warmer and drier as temperatures rise with little chance of showers. Monsoonal moisture is expected to return to the area on Monday with chances of gusty winds.

 

July 15 Jacob City Fire Daily Update    Yesterday, crews on the northernmost edge of the fire improved fireline and began mop up operations in the lower elevations. Firefighters working along the northeastern perimeter near Edwards Pass made some progress into Soldier Canyon. Crews continued to work their way around a finger of fire just south of Solider Creek. The terrain is steep and very rugged, and firefighters are progressing at a steady, safe pace to increase the amount of containment along the fire perimeter. Today, firefighters will continue improving fireline, monitoring areas of containment, and making progress near Edwards Pass; south of Soldier Creek; and north of Bald Mountain. There are several helicopter missions planned for moving cargo and crews around the fire area to assist firefighters working in tougher terrain on the eastern and southeastern edges as weather allows.  Highly experienced crews will begin work removing dead trees in steep areas where they pose a danger to firefighters. Thunderstorms dropped moderate wetting rain in the fire area again last night; and while wetting rain at lower elevations in areas of juniper and scrub oak was helpful, rain at higher elevations failed to reach the ground due to the heavy tree canopy. Weather today will include another round of showers with the potential for wetting rain. Over the weekend, weather will be warmer and drier as temperatures rise with little to no chance of moisture. Next week, monsoonal moisture is expected to return to the area.