( CNN ) -- Two fires have merged , coming dangerously close to protected areas in Florida 's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge . The so-called Honey Prairie fire , which has been burning since late April , united with another blaze called the Paxton Road fire Tuesday , the U.S. Forest Service said . Working around the clock , 526 firefighters have been deployed to combat the flames . `` We 've got lots of crews out there trying to hold that line , trying to protect that wildlife refuge , '' Forest Service public information officer Haven Cook said . Cook said while the fire is 75 % contained , dealing with a fire in swamp can be tricky . `` When we 're dealing with a situation like this , the fire can lay down , creep under all that peat , and so when we have significant weather like a wind event , it can spark and develop an active flame front very quickly from there . '' The fire reached the eastern edge of Okefenokee Swamp to Chesser Island , a tourist attraction that housed an observation tower and a 4,000-foot boardwalk that stretched out into the middle of the swamp . `` The tower is fine ; so is the historic Chesser Island homestead , '' Cook said . `` But the boardwalk did burn ; about 90 % of it burned . '' Florida Gov . Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Monday , citing the ongoing danger of wildfires and drought conditions . Meteorologists say there are moderately good chances for rain toward the end of the week , but thunderstorms may also be in the forecast . `` This fire can go on for weeks until we get a good drenching rain , '' Cook said . `` The firefighters are going to be monitoring this and watching this for two , maybe three weeks because it 's been such a dry year . ''
NEW : Florida Gov . Rick Scott declares a state of emergency . 526 firefighters are working to protect the Okefenokee swamp . 90 % of a public boardwalk is burned .