Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge to conduct prescribed burn today

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will conduct a prescribed today on one of the interior pastures just behind the Headquarters Corrals.

The prescribed burn will be in the Triangle Pasture in the Special Use Area of the Refuge, but smoke may impact Oklahoma 49 near the Refuge Headquarters area. The refuge will make every attempt to keep closures and delays at a minimum to areas that are not directly impacted by the daily scope of work. Smoke will likely be visible from a great distance during the burn. After completion, residual smoke may persist in the area for a few days, according to a press release.

Prescribed burns are implemented under a strict set of guidelines and weather parameters to provide for public and firefighter safety and to limit potential smoke impacts to residents and visitors in the area. Burns will take place when wind conditions avoid sending smoke into populated or smoke sensitive areas. If predicted and actual weather conditions do not meet the prescribed plan parameters, the burns will be rescheduled, according to a press release.

If necessary, further road closure information will be available on the refuge website at: www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita_mountains, Facebook, or by contacting the Refuge Visitor Center at 580-429-2197.