Nearly 100 homes have been lost since several wildfires erupted early this week in Georgia.
Fire crews in south Georgia have battled more than 60 wildfires since the blazes first broke out over the weekend, according to updates from the Georgia Forestry Commission.
This is amid what weather officials have called the worst long-term drought since 2012.
The GFC responded to 31 new fires across 266 acres statewide, excluding the blazes burning in Brantley and Clinch counties.
"We know families have already been impacted, and our thoughts are with those who have lost homes and property. We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters and first responders working around the clock in these challenging conditions, and to our local, state and federal partners, as well as communities across Georgia, for their continued support. Every call, every acre, and every response matters — and so does prevention," the GFC said in its latest update.
A local police department is stepping up to support these firefighters by collecting donations that will be distributed to first responders in south Georgia.
Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp showed his own gratitude for the first responders in a Facebook post published Friday.
"Grateful for the bravery and expertise of the crews battling the fires on the ground and from the sky," Kemp said, alongside a video appearing to show plane attacks on a plume of smoke over a house. "While weather conditions play a major role in the spread of these fires, all Georgians can do their part to prevent any further fires as we work towards containment."
Kemp and other state officials on Friday toured damage from the Brantley County fire.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected from this disaster. GEMA/HS will continue to coordinate with our local and state partners to ensure that resources are available when needed. Praying for rain," read a Facebook post from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency on Friday.
A state of emergency was ordered Wednesday in addition to the GFC's mandatory burn ban for 91 counties. Both are in effect for 30 days.
A severe drought is the source of the threatening wildfires, which also burns in neighboring Florida, according to multiple officials in Georgia and media reports.
The GFC previously said 98 percent of the state experienced a moderate to exceptional drought. Current wildfires have surpassed the five-year average, according to the agency.
Since then, the National Weather Service has extended the list of areas in the exceptional drought zone. Some areas were placed under the extreme drought level.3
The impending rainfall will not be enough to curtail the drought, according to the NWS.
The GFC's interactive map was heavily decorated with icons pinpointing wildfire locations, largely in south and coastal Georgia. Most appeared to be controlled.
A fire burned through 6 acres of land Thursday afternoon in Bartow County, WANF-TV reported. The area was near Acworth's Brandy Lane.
The flames were fully contained after a couple of days, fire officials told the news outlet.
Bartow is currently under a burn ban, including Adairsville, Emerson, Euharlee, Kingston, Taylorsville and White.
The ban is in place until April 30, and then, the yearly summer burn ban will take effect on May 1.
Two fires have been persistent in Brantley and Clinch counties, which are both under an exceptional drought level. The cause of the fires remain undetermined.
There were risks for residential properties, outbuildings, commercial infrastructure, railroad lines, hunting camps and bee operations in both counties.
At Pineland Road in Clinch, a fire tore through about 31,000 acres at 10 percent containment Thursday. More than 190 personnel are tending to the Pineland flames.
Mandatory evacuations were previously ordered, including in neighboring Echols County, after the fire first sparked Saturday.
Shelters have been opened for evacuees, and the air quality remained unhealthy.
Officials asked people to stay clear of the area to avoid congestion and to allow first responders to work.
The Highway 82 blaze in Brantley scorched through more than 5,000 acres and was 15 percent contained as of Thursday. It started Monday.
The Brantley County Sheriff's Office on Friday said a curfew will begin from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. for residents in the impacted area.
The Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team 1 (Red Team) is overseeing operations for the GFC, the sheriff's office said.
Highways 82 and 110 were shut down, and the fire posed a threat to about 700 homes, the GFC said. Several other roads are currently closed.
The commission noted swamps, as well as "heavy southern rough fuels," hinders access for responding crews.
Authorities on Friday said 59 fire departments from throughout Georgia are responding to the fire in Brantley.
"Fire activity is expected to remain active to extreme, with continued spread over the next several days," the GFC said.
To provide aid for first responders tending to these dangerous fires, the Cumming Police Department is gathering donations that will be distributed in south Georgia.
The local police department is asking for the following items:
Donations will be accepted starting at 1 p.m. Friday until 4 p.m. Wednesday. Officers plan to drop off the donations the next day.
The collection site is the new Cumming Police station at City Center, 481 Merchant Way.
The GFC released a statement in response to the community support. It read, in part:
"The support from local communities has been overwhelming in the best way, and we are deeply thankful for the generosity shown to those responding to the fires. ... Your support truly makes a difference. Thank you for standing with us."
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