MACCLENNY, Fla. -- A mandatory evacuation order for residents of the Moccasin Creek Circle area of Baker County was lifted on Thursday morning, but those from Taylor and Baxter remain evacuated for a third day as a fire that spans the Florida-Georgia border continues to burn out of control.

Rain that Charlton and Baker county residents said they have been praying for, along with higher humidity, arrived on Wednesday and helped tame a fire that has burned 68,650 acres -- but it is still far from under control.

The fire spreading out of Georgia and into Baker County grew explosively over 24 hours, but Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson said winds were driving it away from populated areas.

The fire started after lightning struck on Sunday in the Okefenokee Swamp north of the Florida-Georgia border.

According to the Southern Area Incident Management Team, the fire -- called the Bugaboo Scrub fire -- was 0 percent contained as of 9 a.m. Thursday.

Baker County officials on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of about 40 homes in the Baxter community and Moccasin Creek Circle subdivision, north of state Road 2, which remains closed.

Charlton County on Wednesday ordered evacuations for all homes along county Road 185, including Raulerson Road, Jack Chesser Road, Canaday Loop, Chism Trail Road, Dave Brown Road, Reynolds Bridge Road, Joaquin Road, Old Moniac Road to Fairy Road, Barber Branch Road, Farm Road, Pine Acres Road and Ruby Burnsed Road.

Dobson said the heaviest fire in Baker County was burning west of Taylor -- a community of about 180 homes -- which remains evacuated.

"Basically, the fire was coming right toward Taylor and we got some good wind yesterday that took it to the west like we needed it to," Dobson said Wednesday morning. "The other part that was on the east side, they were able to do some back-burning, and hopefully this is holding this morning."

If the fire continues to spread into the Osceola National Forest, Taylor should be safe, Dobson said -- but the evacuation order remained in effect.

"This is a fast-moving, dangerous fire," Dobson said.

A shelter was opened at the First Baptist Church of Glen St. Mary at 9843 George Taber Blvd. The Church of God in St. George was on standby in case a second shelter was needed.

Baker County fairgrounds opened to hold horses and other animals that need to be evacuated.

"They told us we had to leave," resident A.J. Bennett said on Monday. "We'll go to the new shelter until the fire is out."

While some residents did as officials asked and got out of the fire's path, others have decided to stay in place and try to protect their property.

Les Gideons and Joyce Gideons have their belongings packed, but the Baker County couple said they chose to stay home despite the flames being too close for comfort.

"It's going to come across the top of the trees right there, if it comes in where they say it is. I'm hoping the wind is going shift and take it the other way," Les Gideons said. "I have to make sure my house doesn't burn down, hopefully."

"This is my hope place. This is where we've lived all our lives. I want the Lord to just move it away and no one get hurt -- no one, no homes destroyed, and no people," Joyce Gideons said.

County officials kept schools open, but said children who live in the evacuated area were being kept at school for parents to pick them up -- they will not be bused into the areas threatened by fire.

There have been no structures damaged and no injuries from the fire.

Firefighters from Nassau, Duval and St. Johns counties were assisting local Baker firefighters and state forestry personnel.

On Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a request by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue asking for federal funds to support firefighting efforts in Charlton County.

Under the authorization, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs.

Emergency Operations Centers - for evacuations, road closures and other official information:

Baker County: 904-653-4357

Charlton County: 912-496-3687