This Land, Your Land

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has put together a photographic recap of 5 Key Moments of the Lateral West Fire in Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

The fire, which burned for 111 days from August 4-9 to November 21, consumed more than 6,500 acres and cost more than $12.5 million to suppress, it says.

The fire on the 111,000-acre refuge also briefly crossed into Dismal Swamp State Park, which had closed in anticipation of the approaching flames.

Most of the refuge's forested wetlands are in Virginia but a portion extends into Camden, Pasquotank and Gates counties in North Carolina west of U.S. 17. Lake Drummond, a 3,100-acre natural lake in Virginia, is at the heart of the swamp.

The state park is just south of the Virginia state line in Camden County.

The refuge is conducting bus tours to Lake Drummond on December 13 and 27, which will provide the first public views of the Lateral West Fire zone. Reservations are required. Phone 757-986-3705.

The refuge continues to recover from the fire's effects, and some areas remain closed because of safety concerns.