Two Oklahoma Casinos Evacuated Amid Ongoing Forest Fires

Two gambling venues in Oklahoma have evacuated amid a local near the Kansas border. The spreading fire forced local residents to evacuate as well.

The affected casinos were two tribal venues, namely the Native Lights Casino and the 7 Clans First Council Casino Hotel. Both properties are situated near the border with The Sunflower State and were exposed to high risks of being engulfed by the fire.

For reference, the two casinos are operated by the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians respectively.

The properties were warned about the nearby wildfire on Tuesday evening, prompting the evacuation. Some Chilocco residents were also asked to leave their homes as the fire was headed directly toward that area.

At that time, the wildfire was directed north of Newkirk, a small city in Kay County. The County itself was affected by the flames, resulting in a lot of smoke that affected local traffic. At first, Newkirk residents were advised to evacuate but that order was later retracted as firefighters from the two neighboring states were able to get the situation under control.

Firefighters Prevented the Fire from Reaching the Casinos

At 9 pm, Kay County Emergency Management representatives released an update on the situation, announcing that firefighters from Oklahoma and Kansas had managed to stop the fire’s advance, preventing it from reaching the Native Lights Casino and 7 Clans First Council Casino Hotel.

For reference, the danger of the wildfire had initially increased because of some unexpected wind.

Kay Country wasn’t the only place in the state affected by the ongoing wildfires. As of Tuesday, Oklahoma was experiencing 32 fires, resulting in damages and loss of forests. Reports say that the fires have also led to injuries and property damage.

Two Oklahoma Casinos Dealt with Cyberattacks

Luckily, the two casinos in northern Oklahoma were unaffected thanks to the firefighters’ hard work. Damages to the two properties could have added to the woes of local tribal organizations in the wake of the recent cybersecurity incidents.

For reference, two of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma’s properties, namely the Indigo Sky Casino and Resort and Outpost Casino, experienced data security incidents in December. Both properties warned customers that their data might have been compromised, advising them to protect their identities.

In the meantime, Oklahoma continues to mull over the legalization of sports betting.