Okefenokee Firefighter Bitten By Snake

A firefighter working the Honey Prairie fire in the Okefenokee Swamp was bitten by a venomous snake and flown to a hospital from the fire line Monday.

The bite happened on the east side of the fire about 11:50 a.m., fire officials said.

Anthony Heard, 28, was bitten by a pygmy rattlesnake on the left leg while patrolling the line, officials said. They said he has been working on the fire as an engine crew member with Chloeta Fire LLC, from Oklahoma City, Okla.

Heard was flown to a Jacksonville hospital. Hospital officials believe the bite he received was a dry bite, meaning there was very little venom injected.

Heard was in stable condition and was being held for observation.

Previous Stories:

• June 1, 2011: Okefenokee Park Open; Fire 80% Contained
• May 30, 2011: Okefenokee Swamp Fire 75% Contained
• May 29, 2011: Father, Son Among 236 Battling Swamp Fire
• May 28, 2011: Fire Prompts Intermittent Closures Of US 1
• May 26, 2011: Growing Wildfire Closes US 1, CSX Lines
• May 22, 2011: Officials Say Swamp Fire 70% Contained
• May 18, 2011: Crews Burn Ahead Of Okefenokee Fire
• May 17, 2011: After Rain, Okefenokee Swamp Still Burns
• May 13, 2011: Okefenokee Fire Grows To 171 Sq. Miles
• May 12, 2011: Smoke From Fire Spreads 100s Of Miles
• May 11, 2011: Swamp Fire Burns 150 Square Miles
• May 11, 2011: The Effects Of Smoke On Pets Health
• May 10, 2011: Okefenokee Fire Moves Into Florida
• May 9, 2011: Fire Burns 96 Sq. Miles In Okefenokee
• May 9, 2011: 68 Square Miles Burning In Okefenokee
• May 5, 2011: Fire In Okefenokee Covers 18 Square Miles
• May 4, 2011: Slow-Moving Wildfire Grows In Swamp
• May 3, 2011: 1,400-Acre Wildfire Burns In Okefenokee Swamp