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By Joe Edwards
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Fast-moving wildfires in south Georgia have reportedly destroyed about 90 homes, forced evacuations, and sent smoke across multiple states as drought, winds, and hurricane debris fueled the spread, officials said.
On Friday morning, a map from real-time wildfire tracking and alert platform Watch Duty showed at least two large fires burning in the region.
In Brantley County, the Brantley Highway 82 fire had burned more that 5,500 acres, while a much larger blaze in Echols and Clinch Counties—the Pineland Road fire—had engulfed over 32,000 acres.
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"With ongoing drought conditions and no significant rainfall in sight, wildfire activity remains elevated across Georgia," Haley Chafin, manager of external affairs at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) told Newsweek.
"We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters and first responders working around the clock in these challenging conditions, and to our local, state, and federal partners, as well as communities across Georgia, for their continued support."
Why It Matters
Officials said wood left across southern Georgia by Hurricane Helene in 2024 created tinder beds that accelerated ignition and fire spread, pushing authorities to impose a 30-day outdoor burning ban and a state of emergency across 91 counties, and to mobilize state and federal resources.
"With much of Georgia remaining in extreme drought conditions, wildfires have already surpassed the state's 5-year average and continue to spread," said Governor Brian Kemp in a statement issued Wednesday.
Kemp added: “We are praying for the families who have lost their homes in these devastating conditions, as well as for the first responders working around the clock.”
The governor’s emergency declaration noted that the “unprecedented fire occurrences” come as the Georgia Forestry Commission has responded to more than 90 wildfires in the state since April 18.
What To Know
Near Georgia’s coast, the Brantley County wildfire destroyed close to 90 homes and triggered evacuation orders as shifting winds drove flames toward additional residences, where authorities warned residents in as many as 200 homes to leave, the Associated Press reported.
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Images from the impacted areas depicted scorched cars, amid rows of fire‑damaged trees and ruined structures.
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Governor Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday for 91 counties, authorizing the mobilization of the Georgia National Guard, and prohibited price gouging, with state agencies surging aircraft, dozers, engines, and personnel to the fire zones.
The affected counties were: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Harris, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscogee, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Screven, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson, and Worth.
The emergency order runs for 30 days and complements a Georgia Forestry Commission burn ban that halts prescribed burning and the burning of yard and agricultural debris in the affected counties.
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Federal support has also been activated, with FEMA approving Fire Management Assistance Grants for the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch and Echols counties and the Highway 82 Wildfire in Brantley County, and a federal incident management team called in, according to the Governor’s Office.
Smoke from the Georgia and Florida fires prompted air quality warnings across parts of the Southeast, with haze and smoke odor reported in the Atlanta area and unhealthy air for sensitive groups as far as Columbia, South Carolina, the Associated Press reported.
What Happens Next
According to Watch Duty’s map, the Brantley Highway 82 fire is 15 percent contained, while the Pineland Road fire is 10 percent contained as of reporting.
Chafin shared the following safety reminders from the DNR:
- If you do not need to be in or near an active fire area, please stay out
- No drones—flying drones near wildfires is illegal and can ground firefighting aircraft
- Use caution on roadways where smoke may be present
- Follow all instructions from local officials, including road closures and any potential evacuations
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