BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. – A fast-moving wildfire in Brantley County has destroyed dozens of structures, forced widespread evacuations and triggered a federal response as crews battle historic drought conditions and unpredictable winds.
Click on the link above to watch the latest news conference from Brantley County officials.
The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order covering Browntown Road to Post Road.
“Ready, Set, Go” evacuation notices — a lower-level precautionary warning — have been issued for the southwest and southeast corners of Wayne County and the southwest corner of Glynn County.
Several roads remain closed. Highway 32 from U.S. 301 to the Green County line at Post Road is closed, as is Highway 110W from Highway 82 to Highway 32 and Browntown Road from Highway 82 to Highway 32.
Officials lifted closures on Highway 110 East from Highway 82 south to Camden County and Old State Route 259 from Highway 82 south into Camden County.
A curfew is in effect for all evacuated zones. Officials are urging residents and the public to stay out of those areas entirely.
“Please leave so we don’t have to worry about y’all’s welfare,” the sheriff said. “We’re going to fight this thing, and we’re going to try to prevent as much destruction as we can.”
Lance Robinson, operations section chief, said crews are focused on structure protection along the Highway 110 corridor, working north to Highway 32 and on the east side of the fire near the Browntown community.
“We are focusing today on structure protection and really working in and around the homes,” Robinson said. “We’re looking for opportunities to get our firefighters in and behind those homes to build containment lines that may lessen the impact.”
Robinson warned the fire is anticipated to grow and that evacuation zones will likely expand.
“As the fire continues to grow, which we anticipate it doing to the north, we will be looking to go ahead and expand those evacuation zones,” he said.
As of the most recent report, approximately 90 structures have been impacted by the fire.
Glynn County declared a local state of emergency on Friday as the wildfire shifted toward the county line, prompting a mandatory evacuation for residents nearest the border.
The evacuation covers areas along Old Post Road to Highway 32, Highway 32 to Thalman Park Lane, Thalman Park Lane to Bladen Road and Bladen Road to Old Post Road.
Residents are directed to leave immediately and take essential items with them. CodeRED alerts are available by texting GLYNN to 24639, and Text My Gov updates can be received by texting GLYNN to 80946.