The Virginian-Pilot
©
SUFFOLK
Hurricane Irene dumped plenty of rain on the Dismal Swamp wildfire - but not enough to put it out.
Fire officials took to the air Sunday afternoon to assess conditions. They spotted at least 30 areas where smoke was still billowing from the 6,000-plus-acre fire, which is not unusual, said John Bearer, a spokesman for the Southern Area Type 2 Incident Team, in charge of the fire.
But there was good news to come out of Irene, too.
No visible flames were spotted, and the fire - which was considered 35 percent contained on Friday before the storm - did not appear to have spread, Bearer said.
Also, between 10 and 15 inches of rain from the hurricane were recorded at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, he said.
"We have puddles all over the place," Bearer said. "There's time to get water into that soil."
He likened it to water hitting a sponge. For the rain to help, it needs to soak into the deep organic peat, where the fire has been smoldering.
Fire officials were planning to re-enter the refuge today, but their first order of business will be to clear roads and ensure that it's safe to return.
Veronica Gonzalez, (757) 222-5208, veronica.gonzalez@pilotonline.com
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Are the Feds
gonna drain that out too?
Give me a break!
All some here can do is complain...
Calling the firemen wimps is absolutely ridiculous! There was one main day when the smoke was blown up here in my neighborhood, and it burned my eyes and I could hardly breathe. They are down there ALL THE TIME, and are exposed to ALL of that constantly, not counting the heat and the danger of the fire itself! They are HEROES!
Secondly, is it the normal order of nature to "cleanse" itself (or whatever) thru cycles of fire and regrowth? That's the way it is in forrests. So also in forested swamps, I would think. So putting it out as quick as possible is really for our own comfort. If it's a normal cycle of nature, then who's to blame? Nobody! Give them a break!
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Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Off topic
Really?
"We have puddles all over the place," Bearer said.
Really? In a swamp? Who'dathunk?
Oh brother
The drama of it all. Even if the rain had put out all the fires you'd still get gloom and doom from the fire fighters on this.
Thought six was supposed to
Thought six was supposed to put it out.
Should have tripled my prayers.
make lemonade
Maybe its time to stop trying to put this thing out and start distilling some smokey peat flavored "Dismal Whiskey."
Dry swamp
I believe that the reason that the swamp is burning is rich agricultural folks have stolen the water from the swamp for their fields. Swamps are usually wet unless the water is pumped and ditched out. This is a man made situation, and the folks that caused it should pony up some bucks to fix it.
It's gonna be tough to bill
It's gonna be tough to bill George Washington and the of course the majority of our area.
Drat! Foiled again
How did you figure out our master plan ? Now we are going to have to steal our water from some other swamp!