Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma – A preliminary investigation into the cause of the Rush Fire has documented activities that likely led to the ignition. We know that the fire began around 3:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, October 24, 2024, just east of Rush Lake on the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). At that time, a masticator—a type of heavy machinery used for managing vegetation by grinding, shredding, or mulching trees and brush—was operating in the area and is suspected of igniting the fire. The masticator was being operated to reduce vegetation and improve firebreaks.
Once the fire began, resources were quickly dispatched to fight the fire, including resources from the Refuge and from nearby cooperators. By early morning on October 25th, over 30 different local, county, state, Tribal, and federal agencies, along with more than 180 personnel, had arrived to help contain the fire. This quick response successfully limited the fire’s spread outside the Refuge. Federal agencies, alongside our many partners, have worked diligently to maintain that boundary.
Over the past several months improvements have been made to Refuge firebreaks, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure and economic competitiveness. We were directly appropriated $455 million over five years in BIL funds for programs related to the President’s America the Beautiful initiative.
Learn more about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. These improvements were crucial during the early days of the Rush Fire, particularly along the northern and northwestern edges of the fire. Without these enhanced firebreaks, the fire would likely have caused much more damage to private property.
The Rush Fire is still burning, but fire behavior is minimal. Currently, 202 firefighters remain on-site at the Refuge to continue suppression efforts. Firefighters are focusing on perimeter containment near structures while monitoring all areas of the fire perimeter for residual heat. As of now, 12,488 acres have burned, and the fire is 76% contained.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a fire-adapted landscape. The ecosystem here, which includes mixed-grass prairie and Post Oak and Blackjack Oak woodlands and shrublands, has evolved with periodic fires that help maintain its ecological health.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is currently closed due to smoke impacts from the Rush Fire and to ensure the safety of firefighters and the public. This closure includes all public use areas, such as Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area, Dog Run Hollow Trail System, Boulder Cabin and Picnic Areas, Lost Lake, Doris Campground, the Environmental Education Center, the Visitor Center, Holy City, the Parallel Forest, and Mount Scott. We look forward to reopening to our community so that we all can enjoy the wonders of the Wichita Mountains once it is safe to do so.
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