InciWeb
Wildfire
Prescribed Fire
Burned Area
Response
Other
Highlighted Activity
Highlighted Media
Rush Fire Public Information Map for 10-29-2024
The Rush Fire was first reported on private land in Comanche County on October 24, 2024. It is currently burning primarily on Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, with only approximately 400 acres off refuge.
Beginning October 28, the Southern Area Red Complex Incident Command Team assumed command of the fire with a delegation to coordinate firefighters and community partners to protect life and property and manage suppression efforts.
| Current as of | Wed, 10/30/2024 - 20:52 |
|---|---|
| Incident Time Zone | America/Chicago |
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | undetermined |
| Date of Origin | |
| Location | Lawton, OK |
| Incident Commander | Pat Pearson, Incident Commander, Southern Area Red CIMT Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge DOI-USFWS |
| Coordinates |
34° 44' 33'' Latitude
-98° 36' 20
'' Longitude
|
| Total Personnel: | 202 |
|---|---|
| Size | 12,488 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 61% |
| Estimated Containment Date | 11/08/2024 |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Grass and Understory) Tall Grass (2.5 feet) Brush (2 feet) Tall grass prairie and post oak savannah mixed with junipers. Extended period of drought with NFRDS values near record indices. |
| Significant Events | Minimal Backing Creeping Interior pockets continue to burn out. Heavy fuels and jackpots will continue to burn and serve as a potential source of embers which could still threaten to spot. |
| Planned Actions |
Continue to make progress toward incident mop-up standard in all divisions. Focus areas are around infrastructure and the northwest corner of the fire. Continue establishing contingency line north of DIV A and identify other possible lines for future placement. Structure assessment will continue east and north of the fire area. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity |
12 hours: Overnight recoveries will diminish fire behavior overnight and into the morning. An incoming weather system will bring increased winds which may threaten containment by increasing spotting if precipitation is not present. 24 hours: A cold front Thursday should serve to moderate fire behavior, but the relative humidity will likely still support burning, particularly where fuels, wind, and topography align. 48 hours: Increasing cloud cover and rising relative humidity will help to suppress fire behavior, but not extinguish it. 72 hours: High chances of rain will keep any fire behavior restricted to creeping and smoldering in larger fuels. Anticipated after 72 hours: High chances of rain will keep any fire behavior restricted to creeping and smoldering in larger fuels. |
| Remarks |
Blocks 31/32: Block32 incorrectly indicates that 125 responders were evacuated. This should have been in Block 31 to indicate that 125 members of the public were evacuated. 1098 ACRES on Oklahoma Division of Forestry (OK-OKS) 11390 ACRES on Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge (OK-WMR) |
| Weather Concerns | Windy conditions continued Wednesday with gusts near 35 mph with cloudy skies breaking by afternoon. High temperatures reached the mid 80s, but a cold front is on the way. Light showers moved across the fire area during the morning giving way to a chance of severe thunderstorms by evening. A strong cold front arrives early Thursday morning bringing a wind shift to the north and much cooler conditions to the area. High temberatures will fall to near 70 degrees with much lighter winds Thursday. After a quiet Friday, another major storm system arrives this weekend with heavy rainfall possible and cooler conditions continuing. |
|---|