Honey Prairie Fire Update

Jun 3, 2011 | Community Information


PHOTO COURTESY OF: JOHN CADY 

A lightning stike on Thursday, April 28 set off the Honey Prairie Fire in the southwest portion of the refuge.

  • Refuge staff will post all fire updates on this Web page.
  • If you have questions or concerns which are not addressed on the maps or news releases feel free to call the Information Center at 912.637.5247 or the Fargo Community Information Hotline 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 912.637.5597.
  • Until we have heavy rainfall, we can expect the fire to continue burning in the swamp, playing its ecological role in keeping the prairies open.
  • Because of a prolonged drought, the water levels in the Okefenokee Swamp are lower now than they were prior to the fires in 2007. Most of the canoe trails are closed due to low water levels.
  • Stephen C. Foster State Park is open for camping, cabins, and hiking trails. All boating from the state park is temporarily suspended until the threat of fire is over.
  • Effective 5/23/2011, visitors can go on guided canoe, kayak, or motorboat tours with Okefenokee Adventures tour guides. Okefenokee Adventures is the refuge concessionaire at the east entrance’s Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. This is subject to change if there is an increased threat of fire near the eastern two miles of the Suwannee Canal. Visitors are encouraged to call Okefenokee Adventures, 912.496.7156, to check on tour availability before coming out.
  • Overnight canoe trips within the refuge are temporarily suspended.
  • As a precaution, all day use boating from the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area, at the refuge’s east entrance, are temporarily suspended.
  • Swamp Island Drive is closed to public access to allow for safe movement of firefighting resources and fire suppression.
  • The Kingfisher Landing Entrance is open for day use canoeing, kayaking, and motor boating. The water level is low, so motor boat use is limited out of Kingfisher.
  • Okefenokee Swamp Park is closed to prepare for fire suppression. For updates, call 912.283.0583.
  • For additonal fire information, visit InciWeb, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and Florida Division of Forestry Web sites.
  • NOAA Fire Weather and Smoke Forecast.

Fire Information: 912.287.4471, and www.inciweb.org/incident/2214

 06-03-11
18:15 hrs

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