The swamp is not marsh, but forest wetlands and uplands. The entire area is a vast carpet of tall green trees. And this where the problem exists. In places, the debris is almost thigh deep. This heavy load is what allowed the fire to advance relentlessly.
Timber companies refuse to do controlled burns due to the cost.
Jobs will be at risk and incomes will suffer. Ecologically, the disaster was as grave. The Mallory Swamp was ranked high as a region of ecological importance by the state of Florida. And there were aggressive restoration projects under way to restore the landscape to the old growth and to old Florida character. And the place was to be a protected core with outlying travel corridors that would facilitate the spread of genes in animal populations on a regional scale.