As multiple agencies worked to contain wildfires , the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was closed to the public on Saturday.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said the closure was due to concerns about smoke from the Rush Fire, a wildfire that broke out on Thursday near the Rush Lake area of the refuge.
Comanche County and Lawton Emergency Management said residents of Mountain Village and Mountain Sheridan Estates were evacuated Thursday, and areas around Camp Y’Shua, Meers, and areas southwest of Meers along and west of State Highway 115, were also evacuated.
By Friday, the Rush Fire had burned an estimated 1,500 acres, with around 900 acres on refuge lands and 400 acres off of the refuge, according to an update posted on social media by the Friends of the Wichitas, a nonprofit group that supports the refuge.
More: Multiple wildfires burning across Oklahoma, Wichita Mountains: See map of wildfires
Saturday’s closure, which occurred about 10:30 a.m., included all entrance points to the refuge and public areas, including Boulder Cabin and picnic areas, Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area, Dog Run Hollow Trail System, Lost Lake, Doris Campground, the Environmental Education Center, visitor center, Holy City, the Parallel Forest, and Mount Scott.