The Effects of Fires in the Okefenokee Swamp in 1954 and 1955

Abstract

In 1954 and 1955 during an extended drought, serious fires occurred in the Okefenokee Swamp and on the adjacent upland. There was considerable destruction of pine timber on the upland and some damage to the cypress and blackgum forests within the swamp but the belief tha-it the whole character of the swamp has been altered is erroneous. Recurrent droughts and fires have long played an important part in the ecology of the swamp as is evidenced by charred stumps embedded in the peat and by charcoal deposits several feet below the surface. Five major fires between July 1954 and June 1955 burned over about 318,000 acres of the swamp and 140,000 acres of adjacent upland. Most of the swamp was lightly or moderately burned. Severe burns were spotty. Coppice growth is rapidly replacing the timber which was killed in the more severely burned areas. The numbers of otters, raccoons, snakes and most fish were drastically reduced during the drought. Alligators, sandhill cranes, herons, waterfowl and bears were not adversely affected and some of these may have actually been favored.