FARGO, Ga. — The growing wildfire in a swamp encompassing parts of South Georgia and North Florida can be seen from space, according to NASA.

Smoke from the West Mims Fire can be seen in a photograph taken April 25 by the polar-orbiting Suomi NPP weather satellite. Earlier, NASA’s Terra satellite saw plumes of smoke from the Okefenokee Swamp fire on April 11.

The fire covered more than 80,000 acres Thursday, growing more than 6,000 acres overnight, according to a statement from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. More than 500 firefighters are tackling the blaze, which was started by a lightning strike, the statement said.

Since April 6 when it was first reported, the fire has been attended by both ground and air authorities working to extinguish the spreading flames.

The fire joins more than 100 others in the region currently burning and causing evacuations. Similar fires in the state of Florida have charred approximately 30,000 acres and the National Guard has been deployed by Governor Rick Scott in hopes of quelling the wildfire spread.

The worst of the smoke in Georgia extends from Folkston to Waycross, in areas east of the fire, according to Leland Bass, a firefighter and public information officer for the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Cities around Brunswick and Savannah may be impacted by smoke Friday, as well as portions of Interstate 95, according to the refuge’s statement.

Earlier, six minor cases of smoke inhalation problems were reported by Clinch County hospital authorities. Bass said he was unaware of any new cases.

The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area and the Stephen C. Foster State Park, located within the refuge, are closed. A flight restriction is in place over the fire, and Ga. 177 is closed at the entrance to the refuge.

Richards writes for the Valdosta, Georgia Daily Times.