In brief
On Saturday, officials reported that two significant wildfires are threatening southeastern Georgia, including the Highway 82 Fire, which has already destroyed 87 homes. As strong winds are anticipated, local officials urged residents to evacuate if necessary. The fires, exacerbated by drought and climate change, have led to air quality warnings across several cities as firefighters contend with over 150 additional wildfires in both Georgia and Florida. The situation remains dynamic, and emergency responders are coordinating efforts to address the growing threat.
NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — Two wildfires in southeastern Georgia continued to threaten homes and lives on Saturday as officials warned that strong winds could spread the flames.
Brantley County Manager Joey Cason called it a “dynamic situation” in a Saturday morning video posted to social media and begged residents to “please evacuate” if they are ordered to do so.
“This fire is going to move rapidly, once these winds get here later today,” he said.
The Highway 82 Fire has been burning since Monday and has destroyed at least 87 homes. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp stated on Friday that this is the most for a single wildfire in the state’s history.
The ignition was reportedly caused by a foil balloon hitting live power lines, which created an electrical arc igniting combustible materials on the ground. An infrared flight that detects heat was conducted overnight Friday, assisting officials to better map the fire's progression. According to a Saturday news release, the fire’s perimeter spans more than 14.8 square miles, with containment currently at about 10%.
Meanwhile, a second fire about 70 miles to the southwest in Clinch and Echols counties, near the Florida state line, has burned over 46.9 square miles, destroying at least 35 homes. This wildfire also remains approximately 10% contained and was ignited by sparks from a welding operation.
Firefighters are battling over 150 other wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have caused smokey haze to drift far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings in several cities.
According to scientists, the heightened fire risk is due to a combination of extreme drought, gusty winds, climate change, and remnants of dead trees from Hurricane Helene, which impacted the region in 2024.
In northern Florida, a tragic incident occurred when Nassau County Sheriff’s Office volunteer firefighter James “Kevin” Crews died while battling a brush fire following a medical emergency. Fortunately, no fire-related deaths or injuries have been reported in Georgia.
