News Release

Veterans Lake Fire partially contained

Date: March 21, 2022
Contact: Megan Wilkins, 5806188302
Contact: Dan Winings, 5806182601

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View of fire taken from Veterans Lake Dam looking southwest

NPS Photo

Sulphur, Okla.– The Veterans Lake Fire started as a controlled burn (brush pile) on private land on Saturday evening, March 19, 2022. It escaped containment at approximately 6:30pm on Sunday, March 20, 2022 and spread quickly into Chickasaw National Recreation Area. As of 10:00 am Monday 21, 2022, it is estimated at 3200 acres with 40% containment. Rain is forecast for the area throughout Monday and overnight into Tuesday, which is expected to greatly aid containment efforts. 

Areas evacuated for the fire include Rock Creek Campground in the park, and private residences on Claremore Avenue and Limbyard Drive southeast of the park.  

Closures are in effect for the park. Northwest and Southwest Perimeter Road are closed to traffic. Area closures include Rock Creek Campground, Bromide Hill, Bromide Pavilion and Picnic Area, Walnut Grove, Black Sulphur Springs, Veterans Lake, Veterans Lake Trail, Cats Eye Road, the Multi-Use Trail system, the Bison Pasture Loop Trail, the Bromide Hill Trail, the Rock Creek Campground Trail, and the Inkana Trail. Flower Park and its trails remain open. 

National Park Service staff would like to thank those who also responded to the fire, including Sulphur Fire Department, Davis Fire Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Joy Volunteer Fire Department, Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department, Rock Prairie Volunteer Fire Department, Sulphur Police Department, and the Murray County Sheriffs Office. 

For more information about Chickasaw National Recreation Area, visit www.nps.gov/chic or call the Travertine Nature Center at [phone]. 

About the National Park Service  

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 424 National Parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.