Estimated Acreage Containment
Honey Prairie Complex: 180,998 Acres, 80% Contained
Honey Prairie: 162,191 Acres, 75% Contained Paxton Road: 18,734 Acres 75% Contained
Moniac: 43 ac. Road 22: 8 ac. Murry Road: 2 ac. Boone: 3 ac. Whites Flat: 3 ac. Moccasin: 14 ac.

Start Date
Honey Prairie: Lightning, 4/30/2011;

Resources on the Fires
Honey Prairie: 1 Type 2 Crew, 6 Helicopters, 63 Engines, 7 Bulldozers, 9 Water Tenders, 2 excavators, 5 feller bunchers, 6 graders, 2 skidders, 1 Camp Crew, 526 total personnel

Unified Command
The Honey Prairie Complex is being managed by Unified Command under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Florida Division of Forestry. Incident Commanders are Mark Crow, Troy Floyd and Tony Wilder.

Operational Update
Honey Prairie: Fire activity was high on the Honey Prairie yesterday, as stronger west winds moved into the area. In the evening, the fire jumped the Swamp Edge Break south of Chesser Island Road. Crews held the fire to the west of the Swamp Perimeter Road, with heavy equipment and strategic firing operations. The fire also continued burning north, jumping the Suwannee Canal as it continued moving along the Swamp Edge Break. Crews held the fire south of the Davis Community at Harris Road. In the southwest portion of the fire, line construction continued in preparation for strategic firing operations as necessary. Fire in the interior continued to burn in areas of peat. Small areas of reburn due to needlecast occurred off Highway 177.
Paxton Road: Activity on the Paxton Road Fire picked up in the evening, as thunderstorms moved through the area. The fire continued to burn north and south along the Swamp Edge Break. Line construction continued with bulldozers, as strategic firing operations took place ahead of the flanking edges. The fire was held west of the Davis Community, at the Refuge boundary.

Plans for Today
Honey Prairie: Crews will continue to hold and mop up the fire in all Divisions. Strategic firing operations will also continue as necessary along the Swamp Edge Break. Structure protection will continue around the Chesser Island Homestead, Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center, Okefenokee Adventures and the Davis Community as needed.
Paxton Road: Engines and other heavy equipment will be working along the Swamp Edge Break to secure fire line.

Fire Weather
Partly cloudy, with patchy smoke early. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Minimum humidity 28-33%. Winds in the morning from the west-northwest 4-6 mph. Afternoon winds from the northwest 7-10 mph, with gusts to 18 mph.

Open Facilities
Stephen C. Foster State Park is open for camping and hiking. Current park information is available at 912-637-5274.

Closures and Restrictions
The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, including the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center, Okefenokee Adventures, and all hiking trails at the refuge’s east entrance are closed until the immediate threat of fire is over. All public canoe camping, day use boating, and motorized boat use from the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge East Entrance, are suspended. Kingfisher Landing is closed until further notice to all boating activities. Swamp Island Drive, including Chesser Island Homestead and Swamp Walk Boardwalk, at the Refuge’s east entrance, is closed until the threat of fire is over. Okefenokee Swamp Park, 912-283-0583, on Highway 177 is also closed at this time.

Cooperators
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia Forestry Commission, Florida Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Rayonier, Superior Pine, Langdale, GDOT, FLDOT, Georgia Aviation Authority, Brantley Co. FD, Ware County FD, Toledo Manufacturing Company

06-14-11
21:30 hrs

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