*Georgia Keeps Nervous Eye on Raging Wildfire*

By RUSS BYNUM
Associated Press Writer

WAYCROSS, Ga. (AP) -- A wildfire fueled by dense, dry trees and brush
spread rapidly through a swamp Tuesday, and firefighters tried to
contain it before it could spread to nearby homes.

The fire, less than 10 miles southeast of Waycross, sent up a towering
cloud of smoke near the entrance to the private, nonprofit Okefenokee
Swamp Park. Wildfires have burned 53,000 acres, or about 67 square
miles, of forest parched by drought here in the past eight days.

Firefighters tried to slow the blaze by igniting underbrush ahead of it,
hoping the fires would merge and burn each other out by competing for
fuel. They also hoped that U.S. 1, a four-lane highway, would keep the
fire from spreading to homes.

Eric Mosley, a spokesman for the Georgia Forestry Commission, said there
was no immediate need to evacuate residents. The fire appeared to be
moving away from Waycross, a city of 15,300.

However, homes lie within about a mile of the park.

"The smoke impact's going to be possibly devastating to the area,"
Mosely said. "If the fire was to cross the road, there would possibly be
some homes in danger."

About a dozen residents who live within a mile of the park gathered
across the highway to nervously watch the orange glow from the fire
behind the trees.

"I wasn't scared last week, but this is scary," said Kelli Lee, 33,
adding that she has kept valuables packed up for the past week in case
she has to evacuate. "I know I won't sleep tonight, that's for sure."

The park is separate from a federal wildlife refuge where managers have
said the wildfire is beneficial.

The fire has destroyed 18 homes in Ware County, and about 1,000 people
were forced to evacuate last week. Another 5,000 people in the area were
urged to leave voluntarily because of health risks associated with heavy
smoke.

About 50 evacuated residents were still unable to return to their homes
Tuesday in an area where crews battled brush fires.

Sheriff's deputy Dearin Drury sat in his patrol car next to orange
barrels blocking the road, turning residents away.

"Every 45 minutes or so I get one coming up," Drury said. "You can
understand that. They're eager to get back to their homes."