Dozens of wildfires keep burning in Georgia and Florida, with weekend breezes and low humidity expected to extend dangerous conditions.
Fire crews, supported by firefighting aircraft, continue to fight two major fires as well as 32 new fires, with those new fires burning 50 acres, the Georgia Forestry Commission noted in a post on X on Saturday. One of the largest fires in Georgia, the Pineland Road Fire, burning since April 18, has grown to consume 31,976 acres near Fargo, Georgia, about 120 miles northeast of Tallahassee, Florida, and remains only 10% contained, the commission said.
The Highway 82 Fire, which began April 20 near Atkinson, Georgia, about 258 miles southeast of Atlanta, is estimated to have burned more than 7,567 acres and is also 10% contained, according to the commission. More than 500 forestry commission personnel were among those fighting the fires.
The fires have led to unprecedented losses of homes, with dozens destroyed and more in danger, Gov. Brian Kemp said during a news conference on Friday, April 24.
Over the last 30 days, the state has had more than 800 reported wildfires, affecting more than 43,500 acres, Johnny Sabo, the director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, said during the news conference.
