Tropical Storm Barry Helps Firefighters Contain Wildfires
600,000 Acres Burned in Georgia and Florida
Sunday, June 3, 2007 1604 PDT

WAYCROSS, Georiga -- Tropical Storm Barry gave a much-needed soaking to
thousands of acres of burning swamp and timberland in northern Florida and
southeastern Georgia.

By Sunday afternoon, Mount Vernon, Georgia, had received 8 inches of rain

West Palm Beach, Florida, received 7 inches

Hardeeville, South Carolina, received 6+ inches

Larry Morris with the joint information center in Waycross: "Barry was a
tremendous help to a thirsty Southeast. But residents living near Georgia's
fires should not be complacent."

"It's still a live fire. Contained does not mean controlled, and it does not
mean extinguished," Morris said.

Morris estimates that the fire, which crews have battled for more than a
month, is now about 85 percent contained.

The rain was not enough to put out the blazes. Federal and state spokesmen
said, however, the moist conditions allowed firefighters to focus on hot
spots missed by the rain, and on areas that could potentially re-ignite.

Two large fires have charred more than 600,000 acres, or roughly 937 square
miles, of swamp and timberland since a tree fell on a power line south of
Waycross April 16.

Then a lightning strike inside the Okefenokee Swamp on May 5 ignited the
second blaze.

The fires have destroyed 30 homes

Several evacuations were ordered, but had all been lifted by Sunday.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and that section of Osceola National
Forest north of I-10 remained closed Sunday.