In brief
In Georgia, raging wildfires fueled by extreme drought conditions and debris from Hurricane Helene have forced hundreds to flee their homes, causing widespread distress. With over 50 homes destroyed and evacuations in progress, concerns about air quality and unpredictable winds add to the crisis. Officials are working tirelessly to combat the fires as impacted residents await news about their properties.
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 away in smoke, leading to air quality warnings across the Southeast.
Driven by strong winds and low humidity, the two biggest fires in southern Georgia have rapidly spread over the past two days, destroying more than 50 homes in rural areas. This growing threat has led to more evacuations and school closures.
“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, 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 warns of another high-risk day, with shifting winds posing a major concern as they could send embers flying in all directions.
Fire crews responded to 34 new and relatively small blazes on Wednesday, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. In Florida, firefighters are combating more than 130 wildfires, primarily in the northern part of the state.
Georgia officials state that the wildfires are being fueled in part by fallen trees and limbs still on the ground since Hurricane Helene crossed the state’s southern region in September 2024. “There’s a ton of old Hurricane Helene debris down in the woods,” said Seth Hawkins, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson. “It’s lying around and it’s just a tinderbox out there.”
It has yet to be determined how the wildfires started, but both southern Georgia and northern Florida are experiencing extreme dryness. The Brantley County fire has caused significant structural damage, covering 7 square miles but remained stable overnight. However, wind conditions remain unpredictable and could cause rapid changes.
Georgia’s largest fire, located in a mostly rural area east of Valdosta, has continued to expand, covering 47 square miles, nearly double the size of Manhattan.
Smoke from the wildfires has drifted across a vast area of the Southeast, affecting air quality in cities as far as Columbia, South Carolina. In Atlanta, a hazy skyline and smoky odors have raised alarms for children and individuals with pre-existing health issues.
