BLAZE STARTS TO PICK UP AGAIN AS RAIN EASES

FARGO — The fire that has burned more than 150,000 acres in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is starting to pick up steam again, according to a firefighting spokeswoman.

The West Mims Fire, first reported on April 6, was becoming “more active,” said Annaleasa Winter, public information officer for the fire’s command post.

“The most active portion in in the southern section,” she said. “We’re finding lots of heat in piles from logging operations, so we’re breaking those up.”

Deep-burning peat is also creating problems, Winter said.

More than 630 firefighters were tackling the blaze over the weekend, along with aerial tanker crews and an army of heavy machinery, according to a statement from the refuge. The fire could burn for months before being extinguished.

Temperatures in the 90s and lack of recent rain are hampering the situation, Winter said. “There’s a chance of rain for later in the week,” she said. “Right now, we just can’t put enough water on it.”

With rain also comes lightning, which means the classic late-afternoon South Georgia thunderstorms the National Weather Service foresees for the region this week could spark more fire outbreaks, Winter said.

Mopping up and getting the refuge safe to reopen is the priority, she said.

“We’re clearing dead trees from areas near structures and boardwalks,” she said. In some spots, enough trees are falling due to burned-out roots to make it unsafe right now for firefighters to approach, she said.