Folkston, Ga.
Firefighters said today that a wildfire that has raced through the Okefenokee Swamp in southeast Georgia and into northern Florida has charred at least 179-thousand-940 acres — or 281 square miles — since a lightning strike ignited it a week ago.The fire, which started last Saturday in the middle of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, took just six days to grow larger than a wildfire that has burned 116-thousand-480 acres of Georgia forest and swampland over more than three weeks.
The fast-growing fire more than doubled in size — from 88-thousand-250 acres — yesterday as wind from the northeast fanned it across dry swamp grasses. Its movement slowed today, but firefighters expect the blaze to keep growing.
The commander of the joint state-and-federal team battling the swamp blazes, Mark Ruggiero, said this afternoon — quote — "This one's approaching 200-thousand acres."
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