“Some have lost everything”: Brantley County EMA director warns as evacuations ordered
Wildfires force evacuations in South Georgia as families lose homes
BRANTLEY COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- The Georgia Emergency Management Agency, on behalf of the Brantley County Emergency Management Agency, has issued and extended a mandatory evacuation for parts of Brantley County due to ongoing wildfire conditions.
Brantley County Emergency Management Director Chuck White said the focus is on protecting lives and helping those impacted by the fires.
“Life safety and taking care of the social fabric for those that have been impacted by this fire is a huge priority for this county,” White said. “We’re pulling in resources from the state of Georgia for long-term recovery group support so that we’re able to start working through the issues for those who have lost everything. And folks, in some cases, it is just that they’ve lost everything.”
New areas under evacuation
Officials said the evacuation applies to:
- GA-110 (Yellow Pine Road) to Thrower Road
- Browntown Road from Highway 82 to Greenleaf Road
Residents in these areas are being told to leave immediately.
EMA officials added, if you are outside the mandatory evacuation area and feel unsafe, please evacuate now.
Wildfires continue to spread
Officials said two wildfires are burning in South Georgia near the Florida border.
The Highway 82 fire has burned 3,800 acres and destroyed at least 49 structures, including homes. It was about 10% contained early Wednesday.
The nearby Pineland Road fire has burned more than 16,000 acres and was also about 10% contained as of Tuesday evening.
Officials said both fires are being fueled by vegetation dried by drought conditions.
Smoke from the fires is affecting air quality hundreds of miles away, as far away as Atlanta.
Emergency management officials are urging anyone in affected areas to evacuate without delay and continue monitoring official channels for updates.
