Office of the National Meteorological Service in NormanOklahoma, warned of danger fire weather conditionsincluding the area surrounding the Rush Fire, which has burned more than 12,000 acres in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.

The whole refuge in IndiahomaOklahoma, about an hour and a half southwest of Oklahoma Cityit was closed to the public last Saturday. In a news conference, Wildfire Refuge Manager Amber Zimmerman said this was done to allow fire crews and other first responders to operate unhindered.

The Rush Fire is burning the Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma.

(Comanche County/Lawton Emergency Management)

Bone-dry conditions combined with unseasonably warm temperatures have created a fire weather threat in parts of the center. US for the beginning of the week. Parts of Oklahoma will have high temperatures in the 90s months.

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The refuge reported on social media that the fire started last Thursday and has already reached more than 12,000 acres. While private land has been affected, the fire is only active in the special purpose area of ​​the refuge. There are areas that are not open to the general public.

Langford Comanche Emergency Management lifted evacuation orders this weekend, but warned that people south of wildlife the shelter is already dealing with a lot of smoke. Emergency Director Clint Langford said people with respiratory problems should take safety precautions. About 150 people from 20 agencies were assigned to fight the flames.

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As for animalsaid Zimmerman, those in the refuge are adapting to fire as a “natural process.” She said the fire was not a major threat to animals on the refuge, including the Wichita bison herd, which was able to escape the areas currently burning.

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is one of the oldest in the country, established in 1901 by President William McKinley.