Yesterday morning the smoke was thick at Lakeland Boat Ramp on the Alapaha River, and smokey haze continued all the way past Waycross to Okefenokee Swamp Park.

Rain a few days ago helped, but it was only a few inches, and fires can smolder for many days.

More rain is predicted for four days starting today: maybe that will finally put that fire out, and the many others.

Meanwhile, don’t burn outdoors, eh?

Smoke at Lakeland Boat Ramp, Pineland Road Fire 2026-05-06, Suwannoochee Creek, Suwannee River Basin

The smoke was probably mostly from the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch and Echols Counties. The creek in its middle is Suwannoochee Creek, which is the county line and runs into the Suwannee River downstream from Fargo.

Here’s the big picture.

Map: Fires in Suwannee River Basin 2026-05-07 –Watch Duty

Watch Duty included a link to this map of evacuation zones.

Map: Evacuation Zones, Pineland Road Fire 2026-04-29 –Watch Duty
PDF

Smokey at Lakeland Boat Ramp, 2026-05-06 –jsq for WWALS

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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