Sweat Farm Road Fire: With the success of fire suppression efforts on Friday and the heavy rains from Saturday, the Sweat Farm Road and Bugaboo Scrub 2 fires are now 98% contained. Accumulated rainfall totals for the area ranged from 3 inches to almost 6 inches. Due to poor and potentially hazardous road conditions, firefighters will not be on the line today but will conduct necessary maintenance on equipment in preparation for mop up and rehabilitation operations tomorrow. If weather permits, fire officials will fly the fire today looking for hot spots.

Big Turnaround Complex: Crews will take advantage of moist conditions to extend mop-up efforts deeper into the perimeter. Firefighters will continue to monitor the fire as fuels dry out and will be particularly vigilant for the potential for reburn. Although most areas of the fire received 3-4 inches of rain yesterday, flames of four feet were still reported in some areas protected from the rain and fuels are already beginning to dry out.

Residents east of the fire, including Folkston and Kingsland, should expect to see and smell smoke over the next few days due to a shift in winds.

Mop-Up Command: Tropical Storm Barry brought 5 ¼ inches of rain to the area around Waycross. Mop-up operations continue with crews hoping to enter the woods again today, using extreme caution in post storm conditions. Two task forces are being relocated to Statesboro to facilitate quicker travel to work places.

North Florida Fire Situation

Florida Bugaboo Fire: The fire is located in Baker and Columbia Counties in Florida, north of Interstate 10 and east of State 441. The leading edge of the fire has advanced very little in the past five days and remains about 9 miles north of I-10 and 1.5 miles east of Hwy 441. It remains south of Fairview Road, west of Forest Road 237, north of Forest Road 285 and east of Needmore Road. Plans call for fire crews to continue with mop-up, line improvement, structure protection and to begin rehab in some areas. Fire activity is expected to be minimal today, but the fire is not extinguished despite receiving 3 inches of rain over the area.

Today’s Fire Weather: Clouds will scatter out early with only a slight chance of rain this afternoon. Maximum temperatures will be 84-88 degrees with relative humidity 39-45%. Winds will be 10-20 mph from the northwest this morning, with afternoon winds from the west at 10-15 mph gusting to 25 mph.

Advisories and Closures: A fire advisory is in effect for the Davis community south along the Perimeter Road, including the east entrance of the Refuge, and also the area west of SR 121 from the Refuge entrance south to Chesser Island Road. This includes Hamp Chesser and Doc Ryder Roads. The Moniac community near St. George is still under a fire advisory. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, including the visitor center, is closed. The Refuge headquarters is open and conducting normal business.

The Osceola National Forest north of Interstate 10 is closed for recreational use until further notice. The Forest south of I-10 including Ocean Pond Campground is open.

Roads Information: SR 177 between Stephen C. Foster State Park and Fargo remains closed.