Associated Press
Monday, June 4, 2007

WAYCROSS, Ga., June 3 -- Tropical Storm Barry and its remnants gave a much-needed soaking to thousands of acres of burning swamp and timberland in northern Florida and southeastern Georgia.

Saturday's rainfall -- as much as six inches in some spots -- was not enough to put out the blazes. But officials said the moist conditions allowed firefighters to focus on hot spots missed by the rain and on areas that are already drying out and could potentially catch fire again.

Crews have battled the fire for more than a month. It is about 85 percent contained, estimates Larry Morris, a Georgia forestry official.

More than 600,000 acres, or about 937 square miles, of swamp and timberland have been charred since a tree fell on a power line south of Waycross on April 16 and a lightning strike inside the Okefenokee Swamp on May 5 ignited a second blaze.