US EditionGrowing wildfires blamed for death of Florida firefighter, destruction of 120 Georgia homes
Officials say drought and wind fueled the fast-moving blazes as crews worked to protect nearly 1,000 threatened homes.
- On Friday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp reported two large wildfires in southeast Georgia have destroyed more than 120 homes, with mandatory evacuations ordered across Brantley and Clinch counties.
- Investigators suspect a foil balloon striking power lines sparked the Brantley blaze; persistent drought and dry hurricane debris have created a tinderbox fueling rapid fire spread across the region.
- The Highway 82 fire in Brantley is roughly 15% contained, while the larger Pineland Road fire in Clinch remains at 10% containment with more than 190 personnel battling the flames.
- Governor Kemp declared a state of emergency Wednesday for 91 counties, authorizing National Guard deployment and implementing a 30-day burn ban to prevent further ignitions during extreme drought conditions.
- Forecasters warn no significant rainfall is expected soon, leaving wildfire activity elevated for months as Georgia faces its most significant home loss in state history.
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Georgia wildfires destory 120 homes, continue to threaten residents
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.IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Powerf…
Horrific Footage of the Fire, Thousands Evacuated, 120 Homes Destroyed: "the Fire Cannot Be Stopped"
Investigators suspect that both major fires were caused by human factors.
Wildfires abound in US Southeast, Georgia suffers record property losses
By Steve Gorman April 24 (Reuters) – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared an emergency on Friday for 91 counties in his state, where authorities are battling two major wildfires that have caused record property damage as more than 120 homes and other buildings have gone up in flames. The Highway 82 and Pineland Road fires – one sparked by a party balloon, the other by a welder’s torch – are by far the fiercest among dozens of blazes ravaging t…
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