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Recent rainfall is assisting efforts to control wildfire flare ups

The return of summer afternoon showers has put a real hit on recent wildfire conditions. Containment efforts on the Santa Fe Swamp fire have progressed to about 70 to 75 percent, but mop up efforts continue as officials expect to have the fire completely under control. Bradford County Emergency Management spokesman Michael Heeder says although Bradford County is seeing rain in some areas, the burn ban is still in place.

“While we are receiving afternoon thundershowers, we anticipate the burn ban remaining in place, at least for the short term, until we’ve gotten significant, extensive rainfall that covers the entire county, not just particular areas from these pop up thunderstorms,” he said.

Heeder adds he is making sure firefighters have a rapid response to quickly contain any fire which breaks out.

Corey is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.