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After Three Months, Va. Dismal Swamp Fire Out

Nov. 22, 2011

SUFFOLK, Va. -- A wildfire that burned thousands of acres in southeastern Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp over more than three months has been extinguished. Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge officials surveyed the burned area Friday and found no evidence of smoke. On Monday, an aerial reconnaissance flight confirmed those findings.

SUFFOLK, Va. --

A wildfire that burned thousands of acres in southeastern Virginia's Great Dismal Swamp over more than three months has been extinguished.

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge officials surveyed the burned area Friday and found no evidence of smoke. On Monday, an aerial reconnaissance flight confirmed those findings.

The fire was initially detected Aug. 4 after two separate lightning strikes. Before it was put out, the fire consumed more than 6,500 acres and as much as five feet of peat soil in the swamp. Smoke from the fire also extended as far north as Maryland at one point.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it deployed up to 400 firefighters to combat the flames in recent months.