BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. – The fire has grown to about 9,572 acres and is 10% contained, with crews focusing heavily on protecting homes and key corridors as conditions change.
Lance Robinson, operations section chief with the Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team One, credited a coordinated effort among agencies and firefighters.
Robinson said firefighters made progress on the west side of the fire after a burnout operation near the Highway 110 corridor helped strengthen containment lines.
He said crews also continued structural protection and mop-up work in areas where the fire crossed into populated areas, with protection efforts extending north as fire activity pushes toward Highway 32 and Browntown Road.
Joey Cason, Brantley County manager, urged residents to be ready to move quickly if conditions worsen.
Cason said a phone number posted by the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office is available for anyone needing help, including transportation and sheltering at an evacuation center set up in Glynn County, with a secondary site planned if needed.
Residents with non-emergency questions can call 912-462-2480 or 912-462-2481.
Cason said the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other agencies are on scene, and additional assistance is being coordinated for residents who may need services.
With strong winds expected later today, Cason said the fire could move rapidly and encouraged people to leave immediately if an evacuation order is issued. Cason also said officials have been told the fire started when a mylar balloon contacted a power line, and that additional resources — including more firefighters and air assets — are arriving to help slow the spread and protect neighborhoods.
Gov. Brian Kemp surveyed the wildfire response along with the Georgia National Guard and other state leaders on Friday before sharing an update at the command center at the Waycross-Ware County Airport.