Wildfires tearing through the southern United States this week have forced hundreds of residents in Georgia to flee their homes within minutes, leaving many distraught about the fate of their properties and animals left behind.
Rapid Spread Amid Drought
The fires, which erupted during an extreme drought affecting Georgia and Florida, have blanketed cities hundreds of miles away in thick smoke. This led to additional air quality warnings across the Southeast on Thursday. Driven by strong winds and low humidity, the two largest blazes in southern Georgia have spread rapidly over the past two days, destroying more than 50 homes in rural areas. The growing threat prompted further evacuations and school closures on Wednesday.
“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 Brantley County fire near Georgia's coast. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.”
Containment Efforts
The Brantley County fire, which has caused much of the structural damage, remained stable overnight, according to the sheriff’s office on Thursday. “While this stability is encouraging, wind conditions remain unpredictable and could cause conditions to change rapidly,” the update stated, noting the blaze is about 15% contained.
The cause of the wildfires is not yet known, but the lower half of Georgia and northern Florida are both extremely dry. The National Weather Service warned drivers in southeastern Georgia early Thursday that visibility could be reduced to half a mile (0.8 kilometres) on some highways as smoke from the wildfires drifted across the area. Visibility was particularly poor in Clinch and Echols counties, near the Pineland Road fire, the state’s largest, the weather service said.
In Florida, firefighters were battling more than 130 wildfires, mostly in the state’s northern half. These have been smaller than the fires to the north.
Associated Press reporter Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed.
