Created: 4/28/2007 7:46:15 AM 
WAYCROSS, GA (AP) -- Another flare up in southeast Georgia Saturday sparks new evacuations Saturday evening along US 1...this time near State Route 177.
The main part of the massive blaze is only a hundred yards east of US 1.
The wildfires have scorched more than 65,000 acres of drought-stricken forest and swampland.
The fire has been burning since April 16. It is fifty-percent contained. The Georgia Forestry Commission doesn't expect to get the blaze fully contained for several more weeks. So far the fire has cost more than $3 million dollars.
Saturday afternoon a new fire started in Wayne County. The fire jumped Highway 301, but the Georgia Forestry Commission doesn't know how many acres have burned. No homes are in danger there.
U.S. Highway 1, which links Waycross with Jacksonville, remained closed for 16 miles near the entrance of the private, nonprofit Okefenokee Swamp Park.
A second much smaller fire raged near Nahunta, east of Waycross, where officials said about 30 homes had to be evacuated. Those homeowners were not able to return Friday.
Related articles:
First Coast Burn Ban List Residents Return Home in Shadow of 61,000 Acre Wildfire St. Marys Fire Contained FEMA Approves Grant for Swamp Wildfire Wildfire in Brantley County Flares Up Again Georgia Wildfire Grows to 55,000 Acres Firefighters Gain Ground On Wildfire 55,000 Acre Fire in Waycross 45 Percent Contained Back to School as Fire Burns in Ware County Shelter Reopens Because Of Health Concerns Wildfires Coming Under Some Control Georgia Wildfires Spread Up To 30,000 Acres & Hundreds Evacuated Fire Forces Evacuations in Southeast Georgia ©2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.
