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 largest fires in southern Georgia have expanded rapidly over the past days, destroying more than 50 homes in rural areas. This rising threat prompted evacuations and school closures.
“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” expressed Denise Stephens, who evacuated due to the fast-moving Brantley County fire. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.”
The weather forecast warned of another high-risk day, with shifting winds that could spread embers in every direction.
Officials noted that 34 new grass fires emerged on Wednesday, further straining firefighting resources. In Florida, crews were battling over 130 active wildfires.
Georgia officials attributed the wildfires partly to debris from fallen trees resulting from Hurricane Helene, which struck 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 spokesperson for the Georgia Forestry Commission.
The Brantley County fire has caused significant structural damage across 7 square miles but remains stable. However, the unpredictability of wind conditions poses a continuous threat. The largest fire in Georgia is affecting mostly rural areas and has grown to cover 47 square miles, equivalent to twice the size of Manhattan.
Smoke from the wildfires has drifted across a vast area, prompting health warnings in cities as far away as Columbia, South Carolina.
The community remains on edge, bracing for the potential spread of the flames and hoping for rain to aid in firefighting efforts.
