The objective of this study is to stimulate discussion on fire management of a fire dependent ecosystem, while considering the lives and property of the surrounding urban interface.Wildfire in the Okefenokee Swamp, a 412,000 acre internationally recognized wetland, brings simultaneously hope for the future of the swamp and the threat of destruction to the private lands surrounding it. The swamp must burn periodically in order to set back succession. The rapid vegetational growth is quickly advancing the swamp into a forested and brushland bog. However, a regular surface burn will not accomplish what is needed. It must burn with a very deep burning peat fire that can only occur during the driest of years If there are to be lakes and open marsh in the Okefenokee Swamp of tomorrow. Historically, these long-lasting fires have eventually come out of the swamp and destroyed thousands of acres of private property. The U.S. Fish and Wildlde Servlce, manager of 396,000 acres of the swamp and with an objective of maintaining the integrity of the swamp is faced with fire management decisions that can not ignore the surrounding urban interface and still make lasting results.Despite the frequent lightning strikes long lasting peat fires are infrequent. Large wildfires occurred in 1844, 1860, 1910 and 1932. Although these fires were considered devastating, it is questionable to what extent they burned into the peat layer and created long-term effects. The burning of 80% of the swamp in 1954 and 1955 only resulted in small (<0.1 acre) pockets of burned peat (Cypert 1961) In 1990, the Shorts Fire spread over 2077 acre but yet only burned small (<0.5 acre) shallow holes into the peat layer. Wildfires had swept through this same area in 1985 and again in 1989. With three burns overlying each other in six years, conditions were still not right for restoring large open marsh areas. Evidence through peat corings have indicated the occurrence of extensive peat burns. The current lakes within the swamp are depressions burned out in the peat and not due to the underlying sand. (Cypert 1961). With this fire history, we ask 'What fire conditions or sequence of fires are needed to open up this wetland ecosystem and perpetuate it as such?'Historical and recent fires have illustrated that wildfire can not be controlled within the swamp. Water and retardant may only slow the spread of fire. Meeting the wildfire at the swamp's edge is the only feasible attack method. If we desire the swamp to burn at its own intensity, progressing naturally through its burning cycles. The refuge is making progress toward a buffer area surrounding this extensive wetland where fires can be effectively managed.