Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Update on wildfires in the eastern U.S.

Honey Prairie Fire (GA/FL)
The Honey Prairie Fire continues in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. According to the latest inciweb information available at the time I write this article (October 14), the fire continues to creep and smolder, advancing on the order of one-quarter of mile since the middle of September. The acreage burned stands at 309,173 acres with 72 people working the fire, and it is 76% contained. The Refuge is open.
Pagami Creek Fire (MN)
The Pagami Creek Fire in the Superior National Forest and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area (BWCWA) continues to burn. Areas previously closed in the Superior National Forest and the BWCWA are open. According to the latest report from Inciweb, the fire has burned 92,682 acres and is at 91% containment.

Lateral Fire, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (VA)
In my wonderings on the internet in September, I saw a news report somewhere that a fire in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was continuing to burn even after receiving several inches of rain. Unfortunately, I did not make a note of that news report. But I kept my eyes open, and saw this Washington Post article on the fire, reporting on the fact that it still burns in spite of receiving heavy rains in prior weeks.

According to the latest inciweb report, this fire (known as the Lateral Fire) has burned 6,577 acres and is 90% contained. It is burning on the ground in peat fuels.

No comments: