WAYCROSS, Ga. -- A massive wildfire spread by gusty winds threatened to cross U.S. 1 in Ware County on Thursday as Ware County emergency managers ordered the evacuation of two communities a state park and a campground south of Waycross.

Everyone in the communities of Astoria and Goat Farm, along with Laura Walker State Park and the Lion's Club Camp for the Blind was strongly advised to leave as the fire that has consumed 93 square miles over 10 days spreads to the northeast.

Sheriff's deputies closed 16 miles of U.S. 1 and railroad tracks running alongside the highway near the Okefenokee Swamp as gusty winds wind rekindled smoldering embers from fires that spread rapidly through the swamp.

More than 100 residents near Astoria were back in their homes Wednesday after being evacuated hours earlier early when the flames jumped Highway 177 and approached their homes.

"It looked like it was snowing with all the ash falling. You could feel the heat," said Darryl Cribbs, 44, who packed up his family in Braganza after sheriff's deputies came to their door around 1 a.m. "They said as soon as we left they were going to bring in tanker trucks and try to save the house."

The wildfire continues to spread near the private, nonprofit Okefenokee Swamp Park, fueled by dense and dry trees and brush. By Wednesday afternoon, the fire had consumed 61,000 acres.

Ware County schools reopened Wednesday after being closed six days, but Pierce County announced its schools would be closed Thursday due to smoke from the fires.

Memorial Drive Elementary School teacher Mamie Holland said she expected to return to the classroom with her students on Wednesday. Instead, she spent the day trying to safeguard her home against the wildfire.

"It was very scary. The fireman was so good. He assured me that they would do everything they could to save our houses," Holland said.

Fire and rescue has deployed crews along Holland and her neighbors' home as the fire races toward U.S. 1.

In addition to the fire threatening homes, state insurance and fire Commissioner John Oxendine said the fire is heading quickly toward the Okefenokee Swamp Park.

He said the state has deployed a structural protection team to protect buildings at the camp.

"They've got the water cannon set up in sort of a perimeter to try to protect those buildings," Oxendine said.

If the wind does not turn the fire and reaches the park, Oxendine said they would let fire burn through the park naturally and focus their suppression activities outside the park.

However, he warned that the change in wind has created a dangerous situation for those fighting the blaze.

"We could have the actual forestry command post for this region, possibly, may have to evacuate if the fire doesn't slow down. It's actually threatening the people in charge of fighting this fire," said Oxendine.

Pierce County schools will not be in session on Thursday.

Firefighters worked Wednesday to widen fire breaks plowed by bulldozers along the northern edge of the swamp in hopes of protecting nearby homes and keeping the fire from reaching U.S. 1, the major highway connecting Waycross and Jacksonville, Fla. One stretch of U.S. 1 was briefly closed early Wednesday.

Officials said the blaze had been 50 percent contained by fire breaks plowed along its perimeter.

Firefighters cautioned that the blaze still threatened to spread into residential areas near the swamp as flames were fanned by southwesterly winds gusting to 15 mph. Stronger winds were forecast for Thursday and Friday.

"They're not out of the woods yet," said Eric Mosley, a spokesman for the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Over the past nine days, wildfires have burned about 67 square miles of forest parched by drought in southeast Georgia and destroyed 18 homes.

More than 1,000 Ware County residents have been forced to evacuate, and 5,000 others have been urged to leave because of health risks associated with the smoke.

Waycross, a city of about 15,300 residents three miles to the north, was not in immediate danger, though thick smoke blanketed the city, fire officials said. However, smoke remained thick near the swamp about seven miles away.

The fire started April 16 when a downed power line ignited tinder-dry trees in Ware County.