Year’s top stories: Rush Fire at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

(This is the first of the five biggest stories of 2024 as determined by The Constitution staff. More stories will follow each edition through Jan. 1.)

For 10 days this past fall, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was the scene of a massive battle against the ravages of fire.

The fire broke out the afternoon of Oct. 24 near the Rush Lake area off the Refuge. In that first day, officials said, it burned an estimated 1,500 acres, with around 900 acres on Refuge lands and 400 acres off of the Refuge.

Tinderbox conditions and high winds put dozens of different local, county, state, tribal and federal agencies into the breach of battle.

In that first night, several housing additions in the area were ordered evacuated. The Evacuation Order issued by Comanche County Emergency Management was lifted shortly before 1 p.m. the next day for areas around Mount Sheridan Estates, Camp Y’Shua, Meers, Mount Village Park, and areas southwest of Meers along and west of State Highway 115 and residents were allowed to return home.

However, as the fire continued burning into the Refuge, land east of the Visitor Center, including Oklahoma 115 and 49, remained closed, to include the Holy City, Rush Lake, Jed Johnson Lake, Mount Scott, and Lake Elmer Thomas. Smoke impacted the other areas of the Refuge and led to visitors being recommended to take precautions and Lake Lawtonka would soon follow with being closed as aerial assistance used its waters to pick up water to drop on hot spots.

By Oct. 26, all entrance points to the entire Refuge were closed to visitors while the battle continued. The Refuge would not be reopened until Nov. 5 on the land, administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Oklahoma Forestry Services.

The battle turned into a stalemate by the seventh day of battle with 12,488 acres burned and it was contained by 48 percent. The fire caused Comanche County Commissioners to extend a burn ban begun Sept. 16 through, at least Nov. 12.

By the eighth day, the tide had turned. There was no more reported acreages burned and officials said it was 61 percent contained. At least a quarter-inch of rainfall the night of Oct. 30 and decreasing winds gave firefighters assistance against the elements.

A massive overnight rainfall Nov. 2 allowed the crews assigned to the task the ability to gain traction against the fire. By Nov. 5, officials said the fire was fully contained and the Refuge was reopened to the public.

The impact of the fire continues to be determined among the wildlife and land.

However, officials believe the fire was caused by a masticator — a type of heavy machinery used for managing vegetation by grinding, shredding, or mulching trees and brush — that was operating in the area to reduce vegetation and improve firebreaks.