SENEY -- Update 5/28 7 p.m.
Officials at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge say the fire there is now about 95 percent contained. As more containment has been reached, some crews and equipment are being dismissed from the operation. About twenty firefighters remain on scene putting out hotspots. No structures have been damaged. Officials estimate the cost of fighting the fire to be around $600,000.
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The fight against the wildfire burning at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge is going well. It has now been burning for one week. Most recent estimates say that about 3200 acres of forest have burned (that's less than previous estimates of ~3400). The good news is that the fire has been quieting down and spread has been minimal in the last three days. Containment is now around 75 percent.
The refuge is releasing some resources so that they can be available for other assignments. The refuge has no say in where those resources are diverted.
They emphasize that the fire is nowhere near out and expect to keep fighting it for several more days. In the meantime, they say they will keep their eyes open for any lightning strikes that may be possible if we get thunderstorms through Monday.
The Marshland Wildlife Drive and the Pine Ridge Nature trail were reopened Saturday and are expected to remain open unless conditions change. The fishing route is remaining closed for now.
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