Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia's swamp wildfire crosses into North Carolina
SUFFOLK, Va. (AP) - A wildfire in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge has crossed from Virginia into North Carolina.
Refuge officials say lightning started the fire, which was reported Aug. 4. Fueled by dry conditions and winds, it has grown to 5,700 acres.
Spokeswoman Barb Stewart says the fire is the biggest in recent history in the swamp, exceeding the 2008 fire that burned nearly 4,900 acres. She says the fire is still growing and is likely to burn for weeks. No homes or other structures are in danger.
Stewart says nearly 160 firefighters from across the nation are battling the blaze. Along with dumping water on the fire, they're creating what they call a "fuel break" around the perimeter by clearing burnable material to stop the spread of the fire.
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