PORT ARTHUR (August 10, 2012)--Multiple wildfires have closed a Texas wildlife refuge on the Gulf coast, an official with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

Park Ranger Tami Schutter on Friday said four separate fires have started at the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge in the past 12 days,, two of them in the past 48 hours.

Schutter said a lightning strike sparked the first wildfire on Aug. 8.

While firefighters battled to suppress it another wildfire ignited after a series of storms passed through the area the next day.

Officials say about 15 firefighters from the wildlife agency and National Park Service are fighting the active wildfires.

The refuge will be closed until further notice because of the potential hazards these fires pose.