Fire spreads in South Georgia amid worsening drought

More than 27,000 acres of wildfires are intensifying across South Georgia, according to the Georgia Forestry Association, as most of the state experiences drought conditions.

One fire, the Brantley Highway 82 fire, has prompted evacuation orders. Local media report homes and businesses have been destroyed. That fire was previously 75% contained, but rapidly spread and intensified. By Wednesday morning, it had reached nearly 4,000 acres and was just 10% contained, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. Brantley County has set up shelter sites for displaced residents.

The Pinelands Road fire in Clinch County, near the Florida border, began over the weekend and has since spread over 16,000 acres. It is also just 10% contained.

Smoke from the fires has spread across the region, with unhealthy air quality reported in nearby Brunswick and as far away as Macon and Columbus. Hazy, smoky air has reached as far north as Atlanta, downgrading the air quality there to moderate, meaning it could be risky to some people.

“This is a serious and evolving situation,” said Tim Lowrimore, president and CEO of the Georgia Forestry Association, in a statement on the group’s Facebook page. “We urge all Georgians to remain vigilant. Preventing additional fires right now is critical as responders work to manage this emergency.”

Rainfall and water levels are far below normal across Georgia, increasing fire risk.

It’s common for fires to start in Georgia forests due to lightning strikes, stray cigarettes, sparks from backyard fires and a number of other causes. But normally, thanks to forest management and plenty of rain, most don’t burn very far. Officials say this year is different.

“Under drought conditions, we have that much less water available either in the water table or in our swamps, ditches, drains, lakes,” said state forester Johnny Sabo. “So the wildfires can spread more rapidly.”

A large swath of South Georgia is in an Exceptional Drought, the driest category under the federal drought monitoring system. Much of the rest of the state is in Extreme Drought, the next level down. Local governments are imposing burn bans, asking people not to light any fires outdoors. It’s critical Georgians heed those warnings, Sabo said.

“That is our number one cause of wildfires in the state are humans, unfortunately — people being careless,” he said.

Beyond the current drought, Georgia’s wildfire risk could also increase in the coming years because of the recent closures of several paper mills.

Foresters keep fire risk down by clearing out smaller trees so others can grow tall. But those small trees are typically turned into paper products. Without the mills to buy them, industry experts worry landowners won’t clear them.

“You’ll get more standing timber or downed timber that’s dead and incredibly flammable,” said Erin Lincoln, director of the Center for Forest Business at UGA.

Many Georgia forests also still have downed trees from Hurricane Helene, she said, providing more potential fuel for large fires.

This coverage is made possible through a partnership between WABE and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.