A dangerous wildfire in southeast Georgia is continuing to burn out of control, destroying homes and forcing families to evacuate in Brantley County. The Highway 82 Fire is burning about 5,000 acres and has destroyed more than 50 homes.
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Georgia attorney general warns of price gouging, scams amid massive Southeast Georgia wildfireAerial photo of Brantley County wildfire on Tuesday evening. The fast-moving fire has destroyed homes and burned more than 5,000 acres as of Wednesday. – A dangerous wildfire in southeast Georgia is continuing to burn out of control, destroying homes and forcing families to evacuate in Brantley County.
No deaths have been reported, but the fire remains only 10% contained, according to the latest update from officials.
“I will be very honest with you,” Brantley County Manager Joey Cason said. “It’s a miracle that we have not had any lives lost. ” Huge plumes of smoke are blanketing the area as wind-fueled flames consume brush and trees left dry from the ongoing drought. The bottom half of Georgia is perilously dry, prompting the state’s forestry commission to issue a burn ban for the first time in its history.
Georgia has seen just 11 inches of rain since the beginning of September — almost 15 inches below normal, the National Weather Service said. The conditions are making firefighting efforts difficult, and officials continue to warn that the situation could change quickly, so everyone needs to be prepared for possible evacuations. At least 25 people have moved into shelters, and they expect that number to grow as conditions change on Thursday.
The fast-moving fire threatened roughly 1,000 homes on Wednesday after destroying dozens a day earlier in the rural county that is roughly midway between Georgia’s coastal beaches and the Okefenokee Swamp. The area is dotted with livestock and fruit farms as well as thick stands of planted pines grown for timber.
Pine and hardwood forests in the region are helping charge the fires, said Seth Hawkins, a spokesperson for the Georgia Forestry Commission, and swampy lowlands with thick layers of leaves and woody debris are “super flammable” when they dry out. FEMA also announced the approval of grants for Georgia to battle the blazes as officials watch closely to make sure the fire does not jump the Satilla River. Georgia Gov.
Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency across 91 South Georgia counties, mobilizing federal, state, and local resources to help fight the fires and support impacted communities.
“With much of Georgia remaining in extreme drought conditions, wildfires have already surpassed the state’s 5-year average and continue to spread. My team and I are working closely with Georgia State Forester Johnny Sabo and his team, along with federal, state, and local officials, to ensure we are doing everything possible to combat the fires and provide assistance to affected communities.
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. ” Over 20 fire departments are responding to the massive blaze and extending relief to the many fire crews trying to get a grip on the wildfire. Cason said the blaze moved so fast on Tuesday that some families were evacuated with minutes to spare.
“There were literally evacuations that were taking place with people removed by our EMS service from the porch as the fire was in their backyard,” Cason said. “It was a very rapidly moving fire yesterday afternoon. ” Georgia Forestry also lost one tractor in the fire, and one firefighter was injured but is expected to recover, Cason said.
The fire is currently impacting multiple areas, including the Atkinson Community, east of the Satilla River, Highway 110 West south of Coffee County Club Road, Highway 110 East south of Gallberry Road, Old State Road 259 to the Satilla River and Browntown Road, and Browntown Road to Crosby Lane. Officials want residents on both sides of Highway 82, north and south, west of 110 and west of 259 to be packed and ready to go.
“These winds may shift rapidly which may create unpredictable fire behavior, so just stay alert. And for the public, be prepared to evacuate immediately. And for those of you who need extra time for pets, livestock and medical needs that may make you take longer to evacuate, you should leave now if you’re in those affected areas. All others should be ready to leave immediately if conditions worsen,” said Sheriff Len Davis.
Highway 82 to Satilla River to Browntown RoadIf you’re in the area, please adhere to guidance from local law enforcement & emergency management personnel to keep you & your family safe. Mandatory evacuations are in place in several areas, and officials are warning people to leave immediately if they’re in those zones. Officials said they will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on next steps as information becomes available.
Fire officials are also urging people who see flames in new areas or outside the visible fire lines to call 911, with smoky conditions expected over the next few days. The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office says mandatory evacuations have been issued for the following neighborhoods:Browntown Rd and Hawks Landing neighborhood Before you leave, the Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to take medications, IDs, and important documents and to check on neighbors who may need assistance.
They urge everyone in the mandatory evacuation areas to leave early and avoid the closure area if possible, follow all posted detours and directions from responders and expect delays and increased emergency traffic. Those who need extra time to evacuate — including people with pets, livestock or medical needs — are urged to leave now. Others should be ready to go at a moment’s notice if conditions worsen.
These closures are in place for public safety and to allow emergency crews to operate effectively. Avoid these areas completely, as emergency vehicles and equipment are actively operating in these areas. Hortense Church of GodNight shelter locations are expected to be announced sometime on Wednesday. Residents are encouraged to head to the nearest shelter if they need to evacuate.
Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. The Brantley County School District announced Wednesday that all schools will continue to remain closed on Thursday due to ongoing fire hazards and affected resources in the area.
“The safety of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority. We appreciate your patience and support during this time,” the district said in a statement. The wildfire prompted students from two schools to be evacuated on Tuesday as a precautionary measure. Students from Waynesville Primary and Atkinson Elementary were relocated to the Brantley County Middle School gym in Nahunta, where they were supervised by school staff.
Residents in affected areas should take the following precautions due to smoke:Briana Brownlee is excited to call Jacksonville home and join the News4JAX team. She joins us from Southwest Florida, where she reported at Fox 4 News in Fort Myers. Before making it to the Sunshine state, she got her start in Rapid City South Dakota as the morning reporter and later transitioned into the weekend Sports Anchor.
Jesse Hanson earned his BA in communications from UNF in 2014 while working as a freelance videographer in Jacksonville. He began work at Channel 4 News in 2016 and has since been an integral part of bringing stories to life on The Morning Show.
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