Tropical Storm restrains wildfires

Tropical Storm Barry provided a much-needed soaking to thousands of acres of burning swamp and timberland in northern Florida and southeastern Georgia.

Photo: Tropical Storm restrains wildfires

The two large fires have charred more than 600,000 acres, or roughly 937 square miles, since a tree fell on a power line on April 16 and then a lightning strike on May 5 ignited the second blaze inside the Okefenokee Swamp.

Though Saturday's rainfall - as much as six inches (15.2 centimeters) in some spots - was a tremendous help, residents living near the fires should not be complacent, said Larry Morris with the joint information center in Waycross.

"It's still a live fire. Contained does not mean controlled, and it does not mean extinguished," Morris said.

Morris estimated that the fire, which crews have battled for more than a month, is now about 85 percent contained.

Barry weakened to a depression Saturday morning.