LAWTON – Firefighters were still battling the Rush Fire in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge as of 9:56 p.m. Oct. 26, U.S. Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Evan Monnett said in a news release.
“In coordination with our partners, backing fires have been utilized to provide further protection to communities, infrastructures, and private property in the event that weather changes,” Monnett said. “Backing fires are intentional ignitions that can help reduce fuel loads and help to limit the spread of a wildfire.”
He said authorities have requested national resources to augment agencies’ current resources, and the transition was expected to occur Oct.28.
The fire started around 3 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Rush Lake area of the Refuge. People living in areas including Mount Sheridan Estates, Mountain Village and Meers were evacuated that afternoon due to the blaze, but they were later allowed to return home.
The fire was active only in the Refuge’s special- use area as of Oct. 26, and there were no evacuation orders in place. The Refuge remained closed due to excessive smoke from the fire.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials estimated that the fire had burned 10,119 acres as of Oct. 26. Officials had not received any reports of fire-related injuries, and the agency did not have an estimate of property damage.
Local, county, state, tribal and federal agencies were working together to fight the fire, Monnett said. He added that protecting firefighters and the public was their top priority.
“We will continue to provide updates as we work with our many partners to address the Rush Fire and ask that the public listen to law enforcement and respect road area closures,” Monnett said.