NAHUNTA, Ga. – A widespread, exceptional drought has set the stage for a surge of wildfires across Georgia, with more than 90 fires igniting this week alone as crews race to contain fast-moving blazes that have already forced evacuations and shuttered schools.
Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency across 91 Georgia counties due to ongoing wildfires in the southern portion of the state, with a burn ban to remain in effect for 30 days, unless otherwise renewed.
Air Quality Alerts have been issued for portions of Georgia, including Atlanta, and South Carolina on Thursday due to smoke.
The Pineland Road and Brantley County fires have both grown substantially as dry winds continue to challenge firefighters, with little rain relief on the horizon.
Brantley County Manager Joey Cason told FOX Weather Wednesday that the fire had scorched 5,000 acres after jumping from just 700 acres on Tuesday morning.
The fire has destroyed 53 homes, with 1,000 more still threatened, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. Officials said no one has been killed, but six to 10 pets have been lost in the fires.
Containment reached 15 percent late Wednesday.
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Around 120 people have been evacuated, and depending on wind conditions on Thursday, that number may increase.
"If the wind comes out of the East, it will jump the river and we could lose thousands of acres," Cason told FOX Weather.
This week, across a three-day span from April 18 to April 20, the Georgia Forestry Commission said it responded to 98 wildfires that burned thousands of acres amid favorable fire weather conditions.
According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Pineland Rd. Fire that began on private timberland on April 18 is still burning in Clinch and Echols counties, has now grown to an estimated 29,000 acres with just 10 percent containment.
Gusty winds and low humidity have helped ignite areas across the drought-ridden Peach State, with 98.1 percent of Georgia’s land area under moderate to exceptional drought conditions.
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Emergency officials have urged residents near the growing wildfire to evacuate the area, with Georgia Emergency Management Agency Homeland Security issuing mandatory evacuations for vulnerable areas.
"My office and I are working closely with the Georgia Forestry Commission to respond to the increasing threat of wildfires in South Georgia. If you are in a directly affected area, please adhere to guidance from your local officials to keep you and your family safe," Gov. Kemp said on Facebook.
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In response to the threatening blaze, the Brantley County Public School district was closed Wednesday amid the "ongoing crisis."
"We know that many in our community have been directly affected, including some who have experienced the loss of their homes," Brantley County Public Schools wrote in a Facebook post.
The district has not announced when classes will resume.
On Tuesday, the school district took precautionary measures and evacuated two elementary schools out of caution due to the nearby fire.
The National Weather Service office in Jacksonville warned of elevated fire danger across southeastern Georgia, urging residents to avoid open flames and sparks, keep vehicles off dry grass and properly discard cigarettes.
With little to no rain expected over the next 10 days in Georgia, drought conditions are likely to persist—keeping the threat of dangerous fire weather firmly in place.
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