Why Does This Swamp Keep Catching Fire?

Overview

In 2011, a fire in the Great Dismal Swamp burned for 111 days. Even a foot of rain from Hurricane Irene failed to extinguish it. The reason was hidden underground in layers of peat, one of Earth's most important carbon stores. What started this fire reveals a surprising story about climate change, America's complicated history, and one of the continent's most remarkable landscapes.