Smell smoke? Great Dismal Swamp is on fire

In what has been described as the largest wildfire in its history, the Great Dismal Swamp on the border of Virginia and North Carolina is burning ... and the smoke can be smelled as far away as Richmond and beyond. Started by a lightning strike, the fire that began in Virginia spread into North Carolina and has spread to almost 6,000 acres.

Southeasterly winds are the reason that those a hundred miles away from the fire can smell the smoke. Richmond is under an alert for possible thick smoke at times, hanging in the air and presenting a possible issue for those with breathing problems.

The last time the Dismal Swamp was on fire three years ago, the smell of smoke carried to the Shenandoah Valley and Augusta County where we were able to smell it for days. If the winds continue as they are now, smoke may makes it way over the Blue Ridge Mountains once again.

So if you step outside your door and smell smoke ... it could be coming from the Great Dismal Swamp.