InciWeb
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
OtherThe Mesquite Heat Fire started along HWY 277 about 7 miles southwest of Abilene on May 17, 2022.
The fire is now 10,960 acres and 93% contained.
The Southern Area Gold Incident Management Team will transition the Mesquite Heat Fire back to the Texas A&M Forest Service at 6 p.m. on May 29, 2022.
Incident Commander Debbie Beard would like to thank the Texas A&M Forest Service, local fire departments and many other cooperators and resources who have supported operations since the Gold Team assumed command on May 21, 2022.
She also wants to thank the residents in the local community for their hospitality during the team’s stay.
| Current as of | Sat, 06/04/2022 - 10:34 |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Undetermined |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | Off of HWY 277, 7 miles southwest of Abilene |
| Incident Commander | Debbie Beard, ICT2 Southern Area IMT2 Gold Team |
| Coordinates |
32° 15' 57'' Latitude
-99° 57' 49
'' Longitude
|
| Size | 10,960 Acres |
|---|---|
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 100% |
| Fuels Involved | Dormant Brush, Hardwood Slash |
| Significant Events | Hot and dry weather is in place over the fire area today. Minimal amounts of smoldering fire behavior from dozer push piles and a few scattered heavy fuels have been observed. Fuels around the perimeter are dry and would easily carry fire. |
| Planned Actions |
Via Unified Command with local fire departments and cooperators, continue to improve and monitor fire control line on the northern, western, and southern edges of fire. Mop-up and patrol to limit any fire progression to the north, west, and south. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Near critical fire weather is in place over the fire area. Windy conditions along with hot temperatures and low RHs are causing a sharp increase in fire danger. Minimal smoldering continues from dozer push piles and a few scattered heavy fuels. Fuels around the perimeter are dry and would readily carry fire. Any escape would spread today at extremely high rates of spread. |
| Weather Concerns | Near-critical fire weather concerns are expected today with hot, dry, windy and unstable conditions. Thunderstorms will develop east of US-87 and move east into the Big Country. Storms are expected to dissipate before reaching the fire area but could bring a northwesterly wind shift to the area as outflow moves through. RH recoveries tonight are expected to be fair at best. Mostly sunny today with southeasterly winds of 20-25mph, gusting to 35mph. Temperatures will rise to near 102 with minimum relative humidity values near 20%. Warmer tonight, with temperatures falling to near 72-75F and maximum relative humidity values of 48-51%. Winds southeasterly at 10-15 mph. Hot on Sunday, with highs near 100F and RH 13-16%. Southerly winds increasing to 25-30mph, gusting to 40mph. Slightly cooler on Monday, with highs in the upper 90s and afternoon RH 20-25%. Southerly winds of 20-25 mph. Increasing moisture will then lead to cooler temperatures and partly cloudy skies through late week. |
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