Crews Try to Keep Fire Away From Dry Forest

WAYCROSS, Ga. (AP) — Firefighters worked Friday to keep wildfires from spreading to miles of drought-stricken forest near the Okefenokee Swamp as most residents evacuated from more than 100 homes were allowed to return.

Wildfires have destroyed 22 homes and charred about 61,000 acres, or 95 square miles, of forest in southeast Georgia in 12 days.

“The fire continues and that area is still being monitored closely,” said Georgia Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Tracy J. Smith. “We don’t want people to get comfortable in that area. The winds have been extremely active.”

Jamey Cribbs, 21, and his family were ordered to flee their home Thursday for the second time this week in tiny Braganza community, just three miles southeast of Waycross. But he and his father sneaked in along back roads overnight to make sure no burning ash from the fire fell on their home at the edge of the swamp.

“I’m ready for it to be over,” Cribbs said. “It’s only been two weeks, but that seems like a lifetime.”

U.S. Highway 1, which links Waycross with Jacksonville, Fla., remained closed for 16 miles near the entrance of the private, nonprofit Okefenokee Swamp Park

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