In response, the Georgia Forestry Commission issued its first mandatory burn ban in state history, effective across 91 counties in the lower half of the state. The fast-moving Brantley County fire in south-east Georgia is threatening more homes after destroying 47 a day earlier. That fire grew roughly six times in size over a half day, and nearly two dozen fire agencies were called in to help fight it. At least 800 evacuations have taken place in Brantley County, with five shelters opened, and the fire threatens 300 more homes. Brantley County Sheriff Len Davis warned residents to be ready to evacuate.
Smoke from the fires drifted to Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, as well as Jacksonville, Florida, causing air quality in parts of south Georgia to decline to the unhealthy category. Smoky conditions were expected to linger in the Atlanta area throughout the day. The worst blazes burned more than 200 miles from Atlanta, with some of the biggest reported along Georgia’s coast and around Jacksonville, Florida. Georgia’s two biggest wildfires together have burned more than 31 sq miles, and at least four other smaller fires have been reported in the state. In Florida, firefighters are battling 131 wildfires that had burned 34 sq miles, mostly in the state’s northern half.
The fires have been exacerbated by a long drought, low humidity, and strong winds in the area. More than 61% of the lower 48 states are in moderate to exceptional drought, including 97% of the south-east and two-thirds of the west. This is the highest level of drought for this time of year since the drought monitor began in 2000. Florida, where the worst fires are burning, is in exceptional or extreme drought.
The exact number of injuries or fatalities and the specific causes of the wildfires remain unknown, as do the total economic damage and projected timeline for containing the major fires.