Wildfires continue to burn in SE Georgia (updated)

Over 55-thousand acres have burned in southeast Georgia--the result of wildfires that continue to rage in the area around Waycross. Officials with the Georgia Forestry Commission say that firefighters had a good day Sunday, able to get many ‘firebreaks’ put down. The largest blaze is said to now be 45-percent contained.

The threat to the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge remains. Fires are within a quarter to half-mile of the northwestern edge of the Refuge. Blaine Ekberg of the Georgia Forestry Commission said today that a portion of the northwestern section of the swamp is burning. The popular swamp park from the north entrance remains closed. The west and east entrances to the Okefenokee's Wildlife Refuge are open.

Schools in Ware County will be closed again today. It will be a fifth straight day for about six-thousand students to miss classes due to the fires. School officials will decide later today whether it will be safe enough to re-open schools for Tuesday.