For those unfamiliar with the Okefenokee, the concept of a fire in a swamp may seem pretty strange. But when an April 6, 2017, lightning strike ignited the "West Mims" fire in the wildlife refuge along the Georgia/Florida border, it wasn't unusual to the locals. After all, vast portions of the swamp's 700 square miles have been consumed by numerous wildfires, with one of the most significant burns happening just six years ago.

By April 19, the fire had consumed more than 25,000 acres. With yet another hot, dry, and windy day in the forecast, Florida Forest Service (FFS) firefighters operating John Deere "tractor/plows" are on the job, continuing their exhaustive efforts. Barring an escalation, there won't be any direct-attack action today. Instead, they've been assigned to the periphery of the smoldering swamp, away from the center of attention, but where the task is no less important.