Wildfire Continues To Impact Southwest Oklahoma

UPDATE, 1:15 P.M. Friday, Oct. 25: The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge posted on its official Facebook page that current wind conditions have created excessive smoke impacts on the east side of the refuge. Due to air quality conditions, the refuge will close the Visitors Center and is clearing the Doris Campground. The fire itself is not expected to impact these areas.

UPDATE, 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25: Comanche County Emergency Management has lifted the evacuation order for Mount Sheridan Estates, Mountain Village Park, Camp Y'Shua and Meers. Residents are permitted to return to their homes. Only residents living in these areas will be allowed to access these areas.

UPDATE, 11:27 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25: The Friends of the Wichitas have issued an update on the group's official Facebook page. The update states that the conditions of the wildfire have improved near the areas around Meers due to the direction change of the winds early this morning. As of Friday, it is estimated that the wildfire has burned 1,500 acres with 900 of those acres being on the refuge and 400 acres off the refuge.

Assistance from over 30 different local, county, state, tribal and federal agencies have assisted in containing the wildfire. Over 180 personnel have used containment efforts like bulldozing fire lines, water airdrops, prescribed fire backburning ahead of the wildfire and direct fire suppression around private properties.

The evacuation orders issued by the Comanche County Emergency Management are still in place for Mount Sheridan Estates, Camp Y’Shua, Meers, Mount Village Park, and areas southwest of Meers along and west of State Highway 115.

Areas of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge east of the Visitor Center, including Highways 115 and 149, are still closed to visitors and commuter traffic. Landmarks within these areas also remain closed, including The Holy City of the Wichitas, Rush Lake, Jed Johnson Lake, Mount Scott and Lake Elmer Thomas. The Visitor Center and areas of the refuge west of the Visitor Center are open to the public. Heavy smoke is currently impacting portions of the refuge, and visitors are asked to take precautions, especially anyone with breathing issues or respiratory illness.

A wildfire sparked in southwest Oklahoma on Thursday, Oct. 24 and continues to burn through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Evacuations are still in order for residents surrounding the flames and various areas of the refuge have been closed off to visitors.

The fire started around 3 p.m. Thursday near Rush Lake, which is located southwest of Mount Scott and The Holy City of the Wichitas. According to an article from KSWO, first responders from Comanche, Grady, Kiowa and Stephens County have all responded to the wildfire and are working to contain it. As of 7:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, it is estimated that the wild fire has burned 1,500 acres and the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Evacuation orders are still in place for multiple areas near the wildfire.

Although the wildfire is occurring in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, there are still several residential areas that could potentially be impacted the wildfire. Evacuation orders were issued for multiple residential areas and are still in effect Friday morning. These evacuation areas include Mount Sheridan Estates, Camp Y'Shua, Meers, Mount Village Park and areas along State Highway 115.

Shelters for those being evacuated are available at the Comanche Nation Tribal Complex, 584 N W Bingo Road, and Arena Cowboy Church, 7323 NW Wolf Rd.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge opens visitor center, closes other areas.

When the wildfire started Thursday afternoon, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge closed multiple areas of the refuge, including the Visitor Center. As of 8:30 a.m. Friday, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge posted on its official Facebook page that the refuge's Visitor Center will be open but all areas east of the center are still closed to visitors and commuter access.

The post also noted that the wildfire is still active and there is heavy smoke on the refuge.

A wildfire from 2011 burned over half of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge has seen multiple wildfires, but one of the refuge's largest wildfires occurred on Sept. 1, 2011 and was officially declared over on Oct. 11. Nearly half of the refuge was burned by this wildfire, which included 59,020 acres. The wildfire also destroyed several homes in the area, Camp Y'Shua and the town of Meers was closely threatened by the flames.

The wildfire from 2011 was pinpointed to being ignited by a working that was cutting rebar near the southwestern boundary of the refuge.