ATLANTA — Governor Brian Kemp is heading to South Georgia Friday to survey damage from wildfires that have burned more than 34,000 acres, destroyed dozens of homes, and are threatening more than 1,000 others.
One of the two major wildfires is burning west of St. Simons Island in Brantley County, where officials say crews are working around the clock. County Manager Joey Cason described the response as “all hands on deck.”
“Six brush engines, we’ve got 35 personnel or more with Georgia Forestry, we’ve got 25 firetrucks, 12 tank tenders, and 10 brush trucks on scene,” Cason said.
Cason added that conditions remain unpredictable as winds shift.
“The fire has intensified, it’s moving west, northwest right now; but that wind has just shifted… and it could move more northerly,” he said.
State officials say the fires have already damaged more than 80 homes in Brantley County, with evacuations underway as flames continue to spread.
Blair Joiner with the Georgia Forestry Commission said crews are dealing with difficult conditions as the fires grow.
“Fires are continuing to grow right now to the north, it’s still showing 15% contained,” Joiner said.
He added that the region is experiencing “exceptional drought conditions” with low humidity and high fire danger indicators.
Governor Kemp has already declared a state of emergency in 91 South Georgia counties as the drought continues to fuel the fires.
Meanwhile, the dry conditions are prompting burn bans across parts of metro Atlanta. Cobb, Henry, Bartow, Cherokee, and Clayton counties all have restrictions in place, though the rules vary.
In Cobb County, officials say all outdoor burning is prohibited, but backyard grills are still allowed.
Henry County has stricter rules, banning charcoal grills and all outdoor open-flame cooking.
Cherokee County officials say the ban applies to all outdoor burning, including yard debris and land clearing.
All burn bans are in effect until further notice, except in Clayton County, where the ban is set to end May 22 before transitioning into the normal summer burn ban.
Officials say the smoky air seen in metro Atlanta in recent days is tied to the South Georgia wildfires, as winds continue to push smoke north.
