Brunswick, Georgia– Heavy rain slowed progress Two sprawling fires in south Georgia over the weekend, allowing crews to make some progress in containing the fires that destroyed more than 100 homes.
The Georgia Forestry Commission said Monday that while rain helped firefighting efforts, it was not “almost enough to suppress the fires” and crews responded to 10 new fires across the drought-stricken state on Sunday.
The largest blaze, the Pineland Road Fire, burned more than 50 square miles (130 square kilometers) and at least 35 homes in a sparsely populated, heavily wooded area of the state about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Florida, which is also dealing with wildfires. It was the area Full of dead, highly flammable trees and other vegetation since Hurricane Helen made a devastating path north in September of 2024.
The second-largest fire, Interstate 82, has been burning since April 20 about 60 miles (97 kilometers) to the northeast. He – she At least 87 homes were destroyed It burned more than 35 square miles (90 square kilometers), according to figures released Monday. It is only 6% contained.
“The fire doubled in size last night,” Brantley County Sheriff Joey Casson said in a Facebook post Sunday. “It is a dynamic fire event that will be affected by winds.”
Authorities believe the fire on Interstate 82 was started by a foil balloon hitting live power lines. This created an electric arc that ignited flammable materials on the ground. They believe the Pineland Road fire was started by a spark from a welding process.
An unusually high number of wildfires are burning this spring across the Southeast. Firefighters are battling more than 150 other wildfires in Georgia and Florida alone.
Scientists say the fire risk has been exacerbated by a combination of extreme drought and gusty winds. Climate change Dead trees and other plants.
No deaths or injuries due to the fires were reported in Georgia. But in North Florida, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office volunteer firefighter James “Kevin” Cruz He died Thursday in the evening after suffering an unspecified medical emergency while putting out a brush fire.
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Martin reported from Atlanta.