Thursday, May 12, 2011

More on the Fire in the Swamp…….

Yes, the fire is still burning, today is has burned over 104,000 acres and still no rain in sight!!! The fire crews from all around the area as well as from other states are working around the clock to keep the fire contained in the swamp.

It has moved closer to us but so far we are still in the evacuation mode and holding. The refuge is closed to all public access so what we are doing is manning phones, which ring constantly!!!

Chesser Island Homestead and the Boardwalk have be readied just in case with sprinklers and the homestead is ‘wrapped’ with fire retardant material to stop any fire damage……hopefully!!!!

Here is the house before fire threat…..IMG_1376

And here it is getting wrapped up …..IMG_2785

The Boardwalk has sprinklers running on it all the time, being fed by a pumper truck and water brought in by tanker truck.

IMG_2794

There is smoke and ash everywhere and it makes for some very interesting pictures. Here are a few……………..

These shots were taken by my friend, Colleen, at midday near the boat basin.

      Photo by Colleen Murphy

 

Photo by Colleen Murphy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three of the five  helicopters working the fire.

IMG_2744  IMG_2747

In addition to the seven helicopters there are 19 fire engines, 26 bulldozers, and over 240 personnel on the ground, this dows not include the Public Information Officers and other back-up people!

More wrapping on the Chesser Island Homestead and the collapsible tank filled with water, just in case!

IMG_2769   IMG_2788

 

For daily updates, go to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge website and click on Honey Prairie Fire in the upper right corner. Also on facebook at Okenfenokee NWR.

Just Us Kids…………….watching and waiting.Wagon Drawing

2 comments:

Michelle said...

Do you know what the fire retardant stuff is? Wonder how well it works. Do you have a fast and easy way out of there if it comes close?

Michelle & girls

Kay and Bill said...

We are packed, as well as the other volunteers, and have been since the fire started to increase in size. We are on the far east side of the swamp and have direct access to the highway and out, if necessary. But looks like we are in no danger. The heli-port is close to us and they will not let that burn, so we are safe!!! :) We are scheduled to leave on the 28th anyway!!!