Q: We read in the paper recently that parts of the Okefenokee Swamp are reopening after lots of fire damage. How do fires keep burning in a swamp if a swamp is full of water?
—Mike Pelta, Atlanta
A: The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has different elevations, and the higher portions tend to be drier, says Art Webster, refuge supervisory ranger. A prolonged drought has caused water levels in the Okefenokee Swamp to be lower than they were before the fires in the 1950s and 2007. More than 300,000 acres in the 402,000-acre refuge near the Georgia-Florida line have been burned since lightning sparked the Honey Prairie Fire on April 28. "Even before the fire started, we had to close most of our 120 miles of wilderness canoe trails because the water (level) became too low to paddle a canoe or a kayak," he told Q&A on the News.
Q: Did anything come out of the banning of WAGA reporter Justin Gray at the signing of the immigration bill by Gov. Deal?
—Michael Martin, Marietta
A: Since the initial incident, there has been no further banning of FOX 5 reporters by the governor's office, Claudia Russo, manager of media relations for FOX Television Stations in New York, told Q&A on the News in an e-mail.
Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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