Nearly 8 inches of rain in the past month has tamped down the wildfire in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and curtailed its vast clouds of windblown smoke.

By LINDA MCNATT By Linda McNatt The Virginian-Pilot Suffolk Crews in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge on Tuesday tried to clear ditches near Lake Drummond to use the lake's water on the wildfire that has burned since early June, according to a spokeswoman for the crews.

By Dave Forster and Kristin Davis, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va. Jun. 16--SUFFOLK -- Smoke from wildfires in the Great Dismal Swamp and from North Carolina again are spreading smoke throughout Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina today.

By Greg Edwards, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va. Jun. 15--Smoke from wildfires in Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp and farther south in eastern North Carolina will avoid the Richmond area again Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

LAKE DRUMMOND is a great place to visit - if you know how to get there. Entering the Dismal Swamp Canal from the boat ramp in Wallaceton, you then take the long ride down the Feeder Ditch to the transfer station at the locks spillway shown in this week's drawing.