Dismal Swamp fire is down. . . but not out

Posted to: Environment News Suffolk
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By Veronica Gonzalez
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 31, 2011

SUFFOLK

It's not out yet, but the Great Dismal Swamp fire that's been wreaking havoc on our sinuses and, at times, blocking our sunlight is much closer to being contained.

Fire officials said Tuesday that the blaze is 90 percent contained, compared with 35 percent before Hurricane Irene.

The hurricane dumped 10 to 15 inches of water on the 112,000-acre swamp, but fire officials still found 30 spots smoking in the 6,000-plus-acre fire. In the past two days, firefighters even have seen flames on the northern part of the fire near the top of Lake Drummond.

Deep-burning organic peat soil, which burns like charcoal, is still smoking. In some spots, that heat is deep underground, and it's not going away until water soaks in.

Fire officials have scaled back the number of people fighting the blaze to 165, far below the pre-hurricane peak of more than 400. Their focus remains the same: flooding the swamp. Smaller pumps and two small helicopters are now being used, said John Bearer, a spokesman for the team handling the fire.

Flooded roads and fallen trees are complicating efforts for firefighters.

But overall, the hurricane has been a big help.

During the last big fire at the swamp, in 2008, it took four months to get to the level of progress that's been made on this fire in less than a month, Bearer said. This fire was sparked by lightning and first was spotted Aug. 4.

"We're doing all we can to get it out," he said. "Make that all nice, clear air."

Veronica Gonzalez, (757) 222-5208, veronica.gonzalez@pilotonline.com

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complaining as entertainment

Submitted by loulouthia on Wed, 08/31/2011 at 12:01 pm.

IDEA! why not a reality show for complainers? Even complainers would enjoy watching and complaining about it and boasting that they are better at it. Should I copywrite this stroke of brilliance so I can be truly American and cash in on it?

Everything

Submitted by loulouthia on Wed, 08/31/2011 at 11:58 am.

Why is it that everything that is wrong in the world no matter the scope is always government ineptness? I feel certain that all these naysayers would be the first to yell when something impacts them that might have been helped by some government agencies. I like it that high rise bridge is being closed for safety checks--even when I am paying (get real how much is out of your pocket?) I admire that firefighters from all over have come together to help fight our fire and imagine you sitting at home complaining. Lesser oversight equals more possibility of anarchy like in so many places that are NOT America. Quit your bellyaching already.

This statement is not true. As a matter of fact, it is a ...

Submitted by eureka on Wed, 08/31/2011 at 9:05 am.

""We're doing all we can to get it out," he said"

This statement is not true. As a matter of fact, it is a ...

The time to put this fire out was before it started

Submitted by Wm D Tabor DDS on Tue, 08/30/2011 at 9:59 pm.

Active water control measures to prevent the peat swamp from drying out should have been taken in the first place. A dried out peat bog is a disaster waiting to happen, not really so different from a huge pile of old tires or oily rags. Its a menace to public safety.

The essential element that makes a woodland a swamp is a water table at or near the surface. Peat does not form in dry forests, only in wetlands. The Great Dismal Swamp, in its natural state, was wet or the peat would not be there.

Human activity has dried it out, and proper management would require restoring a swamp-like water table and maintaining it.

The swamp is natural, the

Submitted by dswx on Thu, 09/01/2011 at 8:27 am.

The swamp is natural, the peat is natural, and the wildfire was natural as it was caused by lightning. Leave it be! No human management or geo-engineering is needed. In fact, it will ultimately make things much worse (see "Corps of Engineers" for a prime example).

Bring in the Sikorsky Sky Cranes

Submitted by NO JONES on Tue, 08/30/2011 at 9:45 pm.

Need 30 heavy lifters to drop 3000 gallon loads of water on the remainder right now.

The only two working

Submitted by taxpayerinVB on Tue, 08/30/2011 at 6:22 pm.

are the helo pilots. Government at its best.

maby im making this too simple

Submitted by Samoyed on Tue, 08/30/2011 at 6:07 pm.

Why don't they go to Home Depot, rent a couple of 2-Man augers, like you use to make holes when you set fence posts.

Go to the 30 spots, drill down and make a hole so the water can get down to the smouldering fire. Flood that spot and be done with it? On to the next hot spot?

ARE YOU NUTS

Submitted by phinfan on Tue, 08/30/2011 at 9:29 pm.

Can't you see the Vet bill for broken bear and deer legs

Silly Thinker,

Submitted by rustidad on Tue, 08/30/2011 at 9:04 pm.

why it's because we are dealing with the government here; where time and money must be spent on consultants, surveys, and politicians, before we even think about a common sense idea.