Wildfires in Southern Georgia Intensify as Hurricane Debris Fuels Spread

Wildfires burning across southern Georgia this week have destroyed nearly 90 homes near the coast and forced evacuations of up to 200 residences, officials said Thursday. The fires, which have also affected northern Florida, are being fueled by a combination of persistent drought, strong winds, and large amounts of fallen trees and limbs left behind by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Georgia's largest wildfire, located near the Florida state line, doubled in size in less than a day and has burned through an area twice the size of Manhattan, the forestry commission reported. Brantley County has seen the majority of evacuations, though officials noted that some residents have chosen to remain despite warnings. County Manager Joey Cason said Brantley County has less hurricane debris than some neighboring areas, but the fire remains unpredictable.

Fire crews in Georgia responded to 34 new wildfires on Wednesday, while Florida firefighters were battling more than 130 active blazes, mostly in the northern part of the state. Smoke from the fires has led to air quality warnings in several states, with unhealthy conditions reported as far as Columbia, South Carolina, and haze observed over Atlanta.

Officials are monitoring weather forecasts that predict a 30% to 40% chance of rain or thunderstorms in the affected areas this weekend, which could help suppress the fires but may also bring lightning that could spark new blazes. The cause of the wildfires has not yet been determined, but authorities noted that both southern Georgia and northern Florida remain extremely dry.