Great Dismal Swamp Fire 90 Percent Contained

May 25, 2013

Posted: Wed 3:26 AM, Aug 31, 2011

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Great Dismal Swamp Fire 90 Percent Contained

A fire in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is 90 percent contained, thanks to a drenching from Hurricane Irene. But the storm has left firefighters with a new challenge.

An interagency team that includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and forestry officials says flooded roads and fallen trees are making it difficult to get to remaining hot spots.

Incident Commander Mike Dueitt says two 20-person crews will use small pumps to cool down the hot spots.

Irene soaked the swamp over the weekend with 10 to 15 inches of rain, dousing the most intense fires. Dueitt says firefighting efforts will be winding down over the next few days.

The fire has burned nearly 6,400 acres in Virginia and North Carolina.

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