In brief
In Nahunta, Georgia, wildfires have caused significant destruction, forcing residents to evacuate with little notice. The fires are exacerbated by ongoing drought conditions and fallen debris from past hurricanes, raising concerns over air quality and public safety as firefighters battle multiple blazes across the region.
NAHUNTA, Ga. — 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 few days, destroying more than 50 homes in rural areas. The growing threat has led to additional evacuations and school closures.
“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who was forced to evacuate due to the fast-moving 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 outlook for Thursday warned of another high-risk day, with shifting winds potentially carrying embers in all directions.
Fires continue to flare up across Georgia, as fire crews responded to 34 new, smaller blazes on Wednesday. In Florida, more than 130 wildfires are being battled, primarily in the northern half of the state.
Georgia officials attribute the ongoing wildfires partly to fallen trees and limbs still littering the land since Hurricane Helene swept over the southern region in September 2024. “There’s a ton of old Hurricane Helene debris down in the woods,” said Seth Hawkins of the Georgia Forestry Commission. “It’s just a tinderbox out there.”
While the cause of the wildfires remains unknown, the lower halves of Georgia and northern Florida are experiencing extreme dryness. The Brantley County fire has caused much of the structural damage, covering 7 square miles but was reported stable overnight as of Thursday, with 15% containment.
Georgia's largest active fire is burning in a largely rural area east of Valdosta, having expanded to cover 47 square miles — twice the size of Manhattan.
Smoke from the wildfires continues to drift over a large area of the Southeast, affecting air quality and creating health advisories for vulnerable groups, including children and those with respiratory issues, from Columbia, South Carolina to Atlanta. A noticeable smoky odor lingered over Atlanta’s skyline the day prior.
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Contributions by AP writer Jeff Martin in Atlanta.
