NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — Wildfires tearing through the South have forced hundreds of Georgia residents to flee in minutes, leaving them distraught about the homes and animals they left behind. The fires that spread this week during an extreme drought in Georgia and Florida have blanketed cities hundreds of miles (kilometers) away in smoke, leading to more air quality warnings across the Southeast.
Driven by strong winds and low humidity, the two biggest fires in southern Georgia have spread rapidly over the past two days and destroyed more than 50 homes in rural areas. But the growing threat led to more evacuations and school closings on Wednesday.
“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who was forced to evacuate because of the fast-moving Brantley County fire near Georgia’s coast. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.” The weather forecast indicates another high-risk day, with shifting winds that may send embers flying.
Fires continue to ignite across Georgia, with fire crews responding to 34 new blazes. In Florida, more than 130 wildfires are being battled, mostly in the northern part of the state. Georgia officials have highlighted that the wildfires are fueled in part by debris from Hurricane Helene, which had left behind fallen trees and limbs.
“There’s a ton of old Hurricane Helene debris down in the woods,” said Seth Hawkins, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson. “It’s laying around and it’s just a tinderbox out there.” While it is still uncertain how the wildfires began, the areas are extremely dry.
The Brantley County fire has inflicted significant damage over an area of 7 square miles (18 kilometers) but remained stable overnight. Smoke from the wildfires has drifted across a large region, making the air unhealthy in cities as far as Columbia, South Carolina. Atlanta experienced a smoky haze, raising concerns about air quality for children and individuals with respiratory issues.
Driven by strong winds and low humidity, the two biggest fires in southern Georgia have spread rapidly over the past two days and destroyed more than 50 homes in rural areas. But the growing threat led to more evacuations and school closings on Wednesday.
“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who was forced to evacuate because of the fast-moving Brantley County fire near Georgia’s coast. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.” The weather forecast indicates another high-risk day, with shifting winds that may send embers flying.
Fires continue to ignite across Georgia, with fire crews responding to 34 new blazes. In Florida, more than 130 wildfires are being battled, mostly in the northern part of the state. Georgia officials have highlighted that the wildfires are fueled in part by debris from Hurricane Helene, which had left behind fallen trees and limbs.
“There’s a ton of old Hurricane Helene debris down in the woods,” said Seth Hawkins, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson. “It’s laying around and it’s just a tinderbox out there.” While it is still uncertain how the wildfires began, the areas are extremely dry.
The Brantley County fire has inflicted significant damage over an area of 7 square miles (18 kilometers) but remained stable overnight. Smoke from the wildfires has drifted across a large region, making the air unhealthy in cities as far as Columbia, South Carolina. Atlanta experienced a smoky haze, raising concerns about air quality for children and individuals with respiratory issues.
