NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — On Wednesday, massive smoke plumes spread across the Southeast as firefighters confronted swiftly escalating wildfires that have destroyed more than 50 homes in Georgia, forcing hundreds to evacuate amid flames fueled by drought and wind.
Major fires erupted near Georgia’s coast, with additional outbreaks in northern Florida, which is experiencing one of its most severe fire seasons in decades.
The cause of these wildfires remains unknown. However, the southern half of Georgia is extremely dry, prompting the state’s forestry commission to implement a burn ban for the first time ever. Since September, southeastern Georgia has received only 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain—nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) below average, according to the National Weather Service.
Residents had no warning or alerts as the fires rapidly advanced in the area.
“I wish that I had known something more,” said Brianna Elliott, who left her home on Tuesday only to find her return route blocked by fires 90 minutes later. “I would have turned around in that moment and gone home and got my animals before anything.”
She now fears she has lost her home and her dogs.
Georgia’s two largest wildfires have consumed more than 33 square miles (85 square kilometers), with at least four additional smaller fires reported in the state.
Dry Timber Feeds Georgia Fires
The fire in Brantley County rapidly spread on Wednesday, threatening about 1,000 homes after destroying dozens the previous day.
The fire expanded approximately sixfold in just half a day on Tuesday, according to county manager Joey Cason. Fires were erupting “in the backyard and people taking off in the front yard,” he said on Wednesday.
No major injuries have been reported so far, Cason added.
This rural county is located between Georgia’s coastal beaches and the Okefenokee Swamp, and is characterized by livestock, fruit farms, and dense stands of timber pines.
Fire crews are working to establish fire breaks to prevent the flames from reaching populated areas. The main concern is strong winds that could carry embers.
Officials are calling for rain as it is urgently needed. The worst-affected fire regions are experiencing exceptional or extreme drought, the most severe levels according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
“If you could start praying for that right now, we’d be grateful,” Cason said.
Pine and hardwood forests are intensifying the fires, explained Seth Hawkins, a spokesperson for the Georgia Forestry Commission, noting that dried swampy lowlands with thick leaf layers and woody debris are “super flammable.”
The forestry commission has enforced a 30-day burn ban for the southern region of the state.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved grants for Georgia and Florida to combat the fires.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources via AP
More Residents Told To Evacuate
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for over half of the state’s counties.
Additional evacuations were ordered in Brantley County on Wednesday, following the earlier evacuation of 800 residents. Another significant fire in nearby Clinch County also led to evacuations.
Mike Reardon and his wife gathered family photos, their dog Molly Rose, and new e-bikes before leaving their Brantley County home.
The fire was about a mile away, and a change in wind direction could bring flames “into our backyard in a matter of minutes,” he stated.
The couple built their home just two years ago.
“It’s more than our house. It’s land that my dad bought years ago,” said Liz Reardon, holding back tears. “It’s the most beautiful place in the world to me.”
Florida Sees Its Worst Wildfire Season In Decades
In Florida, firefighters are battling over 130 wildfires that have scorched 39 square miles (101 square kilometers), primarily in the northern part of the state.
“Florida has got one of the worst fire seasons in maybe the last 30 or 40 years, or it’s turning out to be that way,” said state Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “We’ve been in drought for 18 months now all across the state.”
Smoke Blows Into Atlanta And Jacksonville
The National Weather Service noted that low humidity and breezy winds would maintain high fire danger on Wednesday.
Smoke has traveled to Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida. In parts of south Georgia, air quality has fallen to an unhealthy category, posing health risks to all people in the area.
According to the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency, smoky conditions are expected to persist around Atlanta, with the most severe fires located over 200 miles (322 kilometers) southeast of the city.
Smoke from the Georgia fires has also spread into South Carolina, as reported by its forestry commission.
The weather service indicated that the high fire risk is likely to continue each afternoon through Friday due to the dry conditions.
Martin reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Jeff Amy and Kate Brumback in Atlanta, Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.
